Sporting Kansas City has signed 23-year-old forward Cameron Iwasa to a one-year contract with options for 2018, 2019 and 2020, the club announced on Tuesday.
Iwasa was a 2016 USL All-League Second Team honoree, recording 12 goals and three assists in his second year with Sacramento Republic FC. His 12 goals set a regular season club record and helped Sacramento finish first in the United Soccer League’s Western Conference standings.
“Cameron is a player we saw at the MLS Combine in 2015 and who we followed closely during his time at Sacramento,” said Brian Bliss, Sporting KC Director of Player Personnel. “We think that he is a player with a high upside who can contribute at multiple positions in the attack.”
Iwasa appeared in all 30 regular season matches for his hometown club in 2016, including a team-record 27 straight starts to end the campaign. His 59 shot attempts and 31 shots on goal were also single-season Sacramento records. Iwasa earned USL Team of the Week honors three times and was named USL Player of the Week in Week 13 after netting a brace in a 3-2 win over Rio Grande Valley FC on June 18.
The Montreal Impact selected Iwasa — a native of Sacramento, California — in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft, but he did not sign for the MLS club. The forward inked his first professional contract with Sacramento and ended 2015 with one goal and one assist in 17 regular season appearances as a rookie.
Iwasa totaled 23 goals and 14 assists during a four-year collegiate career at UC Irvine. He was named a 2014 MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist as a senior after recording six goals, six assists and guiding UC Irvine to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship.
For a full list of Sporting Kansas City’s offseason roster moves, visit SportingKC.com/tracker.
Transaction: Sporting KC (MLS) acquires forward Cameron Iwasa as a discovery signing on a one-year contract with options for 2018, 2019 and 2020.
VITALS
Cameron Iwasa (EE-wah-sah)
Position: Forward
Born: 7/7/1993 (23 years old)
Height: 5-10
Weight: 175
Last Club: Sacramento Republic FC (USL)
College: UC Irvine
Hometown: Sacramento, California
Birthplace: Sacramento, California
Citizenship: USA
Twitter: @cam31iwasa
Instagram: cam31iwasa