Starting XI: Johnny on the Spot

Starting XI is a biweekly series on SportingKC.com that highlights 11 of the biggest storylines and news updates from Sporting Kansas City, MLS and soccer around the globe. Click here to visit the Starting XI archive.

It’s a done deal, folks. Sporting KC has acquired 27-year-old Scottish winger Johnny Russell in a transfer from English club Derby County FC, adding an attacking piece to the roster ahead of the 2018 MLS campaign.

Russell has bagged 94 goals during a 12-year professional career in England and his native Scotland. The attacker arrives at Sporting KC after five seasons with Derby County in the second-division English Football League Championship, where he tallied 34 goals in all competitions.

2. Perfect Ten

Single-game tickets for Sporting KC’s first 10 home matches of the 2018 MLS regular season are now on sale via SeatGeek.com. Individual match tickets for games at Children’s Mercy Park through July 7 — beginning with the highly anticipated season opener versus New York City FC on March 4 and continuing through a mid-summer matchup with reigning MLS Cup champion Toronto FC — can be purchased by clicking here.

3. Fab Four

Sporting KC recorded a 4-0 victory over Sporting Arizona on Wednesday at Phoenix Rising FC Soccer Complex in Tempe, Arizona, posting a second straight win to kick off the 2018 preseason, presented by Children’s Mercy. Cristian Lobato and Gerso fired Sporting KC ahead 2-0 before Swope Park Rangers forward Hadji Barry and MLS SuperDraft selection Will Bagrou struck in the late stages to round out a comprehensive performance against their United Premier Soccer League opposition.

4. Rapid Rumble

Sporting KC will conclude the first leg of their 2018 preseason campaign on Saturday when Manager Peter Vermes’ men face fellow MLS outfit Colorado Rapids at 11:30 a.m. CT. The contest will take place at Phoenix Rising FC Soccer Complex and live updates will be available on Twitter via @SportingKC and @SKCMatchday.

5. Preseason Paces

The talented photographers at Sporting KC have pieced together another story-telling photo gallery of the club’s preseason preparations in Arizona. This time around, the lens focuses on 2017 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Tim Melia, who showed no signs of rust in Tuesday’s training session at Phoenix Rising FC Soccer Complex.

6. Vermes Verbatim

Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes discussed the club’s preseason objectives on Tuesday shared his thoughts on the acquisition of winger Johnny Russell the following afternoon. The 10th-year boss is optimistic as his side nears its home opener against New York City FC on March 4.

7. Rangers Ramping Up

The Swope Park Rangers have unveiled their preseason slate ahead of the 2018 United Soccer League season, where they will play the majority of their home games at Shawnee Mission South District Stadium in Overland Park, Kansas. SPR will go to battle in six preseason friendlies, including four at the club’s training home Swope Soccer Village. Click here to view SPR’s full preseason schedule.

8. Man City Moves for Harrison

English Premier League powerhouse Manchester City acquired New York City FC winger and England native Jack Harrison on Tuesday, inking him to a three-and-a-half-year deal before immediately loaning him to second-division English side Middlesbrough for the rest of the 2017-18 season. Harrison has amassed 14 goals and 13 assists in two MLS seasons with NYCFC.

9. Uri lands in Orlando

A former Sporting KC midfielder is heading to Orlando City FC, as the Lions announced on Tuesday the signing of Spaniard Uri Rosell. The holding midfielder played regularly for Sporting KC from 2012-2014 — winning the MLS Cup in 2013 — before transferring to Sporting Lisbon in Portugal.

10. Atlanta Shuffle

Atlanta United FC announced player movement with a pair of former Sporting KC players this week, parting ways with forward Jacob Peterson before adding versatile veteran Sal Zizzo via free agency.

11. Twenty Twenty

Shortly after awarding the city of Miami an expansion MLS franchise, Major League Soccer confirmed that the Miami club will enter the league in 2020. The team's ownership group is comprised of local and global entrepreneurs including soccer icon and former MLS player David Beckham and Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure. More information on Miami’s new MLS club can be found at FutbolMiamiMLS.com.

Games to Watch (Feb. 2-5)