Sporting KC reveals list of protected players for 2016 MLS Expansion Draft

Sporting Kansas City announced on Monday that the club has protected the following 11 players ahead of Tuesday’s MLS Expansion Draft: Saad Abdul-Salaam, Matt Besler, Dom Dwyer, Roger Espinoza, Benny Feilhaber, Jimmy Medranda, Tim Melia, Soni Mustivar, Ike Opara, Diego Rubio and Graham Zusi.

In addition, Homegrown Players Kevin Ellis, Jon Kempin, Erik Palmer-Brown and Daniel Salloi are automatically protected under MLS Expansion Draft rules, which also required Sporting Kansas City to protect at least three international players (Medranda, Mustivar and Rubio).

The 2016 MLS Expansion Draft will take place at 1 p.m. CT Tuesday as Atlanta United FC and Minnesota United FC add up to five players each on their inaugural rosters. Only one player can be drafted from a single club. If a Sporting Kansas City player is selected during the draft, the remaining players on the roster will become protected.

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Eight Sporting Kansas City players have been taken in previous MLS expansion drafts.