Sporting Kansas City acquired 28-year-old forward Erik Hurtado on Friday from Vancouver Whitecaps FC in exchange for the club’s natural second-round pick in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft and natural first-round pick in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft.
In six seasons with the Whitecaps, Hurtado contributed 17 goals and 13 assists in 123 matches (47 MLS starts) across all competitions since being selected fifth overall in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft.
The Santa Clara University product and former US youth international recorded seven goals and five assists in his first two professional seasons, capped off by a 64th-minute equalizer in the MLS Cup Playoffs in his postseason debut on Oct. 29, 2014 against FC Dallas.
In 2015, Hurtado helped the Whitecaps to their lone Canadian Championship title with an 87th-minute game-tying assist in the semifinal series before garnering European experience on loan with Mjondalen in the Norwegian first division. Hurtado would make a dozen appearances during the five-month loan spell, highlighted by his goal against second-place Stabæk, coached by current LAFC manager Bob Bradley.
Hurtado earned a contract extension at the conclusion of a 2016 campaign in which he logged two goals and two assists in MLS play, while matching that production with two goals and two assists in the 2016-17 Concacaf Champions League. Hurtado scored in both CCL fixtures against Sporting Kansas City, as the Whitecaps emerged from the group stage as the top-seeded team in the tournament and advanced all the way to the semifinals.
Most recently, Hurtado has compiled six goals and three assists since the start of the 2017 season, including his game-winning goal in Vancouver’s 1-0 victory over Sporting KC at Children’s Mercy Park on Sept. 30, 2017 and an 84th-minute equalizer off the bench in the Canadian Championship final against Toronto FC on Aug. 8, 2018.
With the addition of Hurtado, Sporting Kansas City currently has 25 players under contract for the 2019 season, which will open in February with a matchup against Mexican side Deportivo Toluca FC in the 2019 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Round of 16.
Transaction: Sporting Kansas City (MLS) acquires forward Erik Hurtado from Vancouver Whitecaps FC (MLS) in exchange for the club’s natural second-round pick in 2020 MLS SuperDraft and natural first-round pick in 2021 MLS SuperDraft
VITALS
Erik Hurtado (her-TAH-doe)
Position: Forward
Number: 19
Born: 11/15/1990 (28 years old)
Height: 5-10
Weight: 175 lbs.
Hometown: Beaverton, Ore.
Birthplace: Fredricksburg, Va.
Citizenship: USA
Twitter: @Etado19
Instagram: @etado19
Previous clubs: Vancouver Whitecaps FC (2013-2018) and Mjøndalen IF (2015)
