Sporting Kansas City announced today that the club has acquired New Zealand international center back Winston Reid on loan from English Premier League side West Ham United.
Reid, a 31-year-old World Cup veteran, will occupy an international spot on Sporting’s roster pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate and P-1 Visa.
Reid arrives in Kansas City after logging over 300 club appearances in Denmark and England, including 166 Premier League matches with West Ham. The 6-foot-3 center back has also earned 25 caps for the New Zealand Men’s National Team, including three starts at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
A native of Auckland, New Zealand, Reid moved to Denmark at age 10 and began his professional career with Danish outfit FC Midtjylland in 2005. He made his Midtjylland debut at age 17 and became a regular starter by the 2008-2009 season—a campaign highlighted by the Wolves’ participation in UEFA Europa League qualifying. The center back played 92 matches for Midtjylland in all competitions before his transfer to West Ham in August 2010.
Reid made his first of 222 competitive appearances for the Hammers on Aug. 14, 2010 and opened his West Ham scoring account in an FA Cup win over Burnley the following February. The London club dropped to the second-division Championship for the 2011-12 season, but Reid led an emphatic bounce-back with three goals in 30 league starts as West Ham gained Premier League promotion with a victory over Blackpool in the Football League Championship Playoff Final at world-renowned Wembley Stadium.
Starting a career-high 36 Premier League matches in 2012-13, Reid was named West Ham’s player of the year as the Hammers secured a top-half finish in the table. He bagged his first Premier League goal in a London derby defeat of Fulham on Sept. 1, 2012, setting the stage for a strong campaign that included a win over reigning UEFA Champions League winners Chelsea.
Reid remained an integral member of West Ham’s backline over the next several seasons, notably scoring in a 3-1 upset victory over Liverpool on Sept. 20, 2014. He also played a vital role during the Hammers’ breakout 2015-16 campaign, which culminated in a seventh-place league finish and a berth in UEFA Europa League qualifying. Reid’s crowning moment in East London came on May 10, 2016, when he scored the final goal in Upton Park history to seal a dramatic 3-2 triumph over English giants Manchester United in West Ham’s last home game at the iconic venue.
The 2016-17 season saw Reid start 30 more Premier League matches and score goals in wins over Sunderland and Swansea City. Over the last three seasons, he has recorded 19 starts for West Ham in all competitions.
Holding dual citizenship in his native New Zealand as well as Denmark, Reid represented Denmark at the U-19, U-20 and U-21 levels between 2007-2010. In early 2010, however, he committed his senior international career to New Zealand and was selected to the All Whites squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Reid was an ever-present fixture in central defense as New Zealand famously finished the World Cup group stage unbeaten with three draws—including a 1-1 stalemate against defending world champion Italy—despite falling short of the knockout rounds. He also scored his lone New Zealand goal to date at the tournament, heading home a stunning stoppage-time equalizer in a 1-1 tie versus Slovakia. He most recently featured for New Zealand in a friendly against Ireland last November.
Transaction: Sporting Kansas City (MLS) acquires defender Winston Reid on loan from West Ham United (English Premier League).
VITALS
Winston Reid
Number: 22
Position: Defender
Born: July 3, 1988 (31 years old)
Height: 6-3
Weight: 190 lbs.
Hometown: Auckland, New Zealand
Birthplace: Auckland, New Zealand
Citizenship: New Zealand, Denmark
Previous club: West Ham United (England)
Twitter: @WinstonReid2
Instagram: @winston.reid2
