Sporting Kansas City has signed 25-year-old Hungarian Men’s National Team forward Krisztian Nemeth, the club announced on Thursday. Nemeth will occupy an international roster spot on the team’s roster for the 2015 season pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate and P-1 Visa.
“Krisztian [Nemeth] is a player who has extensive experience playing in a 4-3-3 system," Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes said. "He also fits well in the overall model of play for Sporting Kansas City and we look forward to his adaptation.”
"I am very excited to be joining Sporting Kansas City," Nemeth said. "It's an exciting time to join the club and MLS. Peter [Vermes] is a great coach and I look forward to working with him and the team."
Nemeth debuted for Hungary at age 21 in 2010 and made five national team appearances during 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying, scoring in a 5-1 victory over Estonia. He most recently played for Roda JC Kerkrade in the Eredivisie, recording eight goals and six assists in 24 games in the Netherlands first division during the 2013-14 season.
Nemeth’s professional career began at age 15 when he signed with 23-time Hungarian champions MTK Budapest in 2005. As an 18-year-old, Nemeth was signed by Rafael Benitez to join Liverpool FC in July 2007 after the English Premier League club finished runners-up in the 2006-2007 UEFA Champions League.
Nemeth featured extensively for the Liverpool Reserves while training alongside the likes of Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Xabi Alonso, Peter Crouch, Dirk Kuyt, Javier Mascherano and Robbie Keane. He was the Barclays Premier Reserve League’s top scorer with nine goals in 12 appearances during his first season, leading Liverpool Reserves to the national championship and scoring the game-winning goal in the final.
He also traveled to the United States for the 2008 Dallas Cup, where Nemeth scored twice in the championship to give Liverpool a 3-0 victory over UANL Tigres at Toyota Stadium.
Internationally, Nemeth starred for the Hungary under-17 and under-19 youth national teams en route to earning a spot on his country’s roster for the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He led Hungary to a third-place finish with three goals in six matches at the tournament, including two goals in extra time against Italy in the quarterfinals.
Following a brief loan stint to Blackpool (England) in January 2009, Nemeth’s career continued in Greece with AEK Athens for the 2009-10 season. He made his European debut in the UEFA Cup and appeared twice in the UEFA Europa League while scoring three goals in the Superleague.
Nemeth was then acquired by 41-time Greek champions Olympiacos in August 2010 before moving to Olympiacos Volos (Greece) and later returning to MTK Budapest (Hungary). His introduction to the Netherlands’ Eredivisie came with RKC Waalwijk for the 2011-12 season, scoring four goals in 14 appearances prior to his move to Roda JC Kerkrade.
Nemeth is the fourth addition to Sporting Kansas City’s roster for the 2015 season, along with defender Jalil Anibaba, midfielder Bernardo Añor and midfielder James Marcelin. Additionally, the club re-signed forward Dom Dwyer on Wednesday.
VITALS
Krisztian Nemeth (KRIS-tee-ON NEY-muth)
Position: Forward
Number: TBD
Born: 1/5/89
Height: 5-11
Weight: 165
Hometown: Gyor, Hungary
Birthplace: Gyor, Hungary
Citizenship: Hungary
