Third-year defender Saad Abdul-Salaam was selected by Sporting Kansas City with the 12th overall pick in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft. He made 28 appearances across all competitions during his rookie season in Kansas City, recording two assists. Abdul-Salaam enjoyed a strong sophomore campaign, landing Sporting KC Defensive Player of the Year honors while starting 26 of 30 MLS appearances and leading MLS defenders with six assists.
2017: MLS regular season: Started 10 of 12 appearances, recording one goal and one assist while contributing to two shutouts (902 minutes played). Scored his first professional goal in a 3-0 win over Minnesota United FC on June 3. Assisted Jimmy Medranda's spectacular goal in a 2-1 loss at the Houston Dynamo on Oct. 11. Open Cup: Started and played 120 minutes against FC Dallas on July 11. Made a late substitute appearance in a 5-4 penalty shootout victory over the San Jose Earthquakes following a 1-1 draw through regulation and extra time on Aug. 9. MLS Cup Playoffs: Played six minutes as an extra-time substitute in a 1-0 loss at the Houston Dynamo in the Western Conference Knockout Round on Oct. 26.
2016: Was named Sporting KC's Defensive Player of the Year. Started 30 of 34 appearances in all competitions, recording six assists (2746 minutes played). MLS regular season: Started 26 of 30 appearances, recorded six assists and contributed to eight shutouts (2377 minutes played). Assisted Dom Dwyer's goal in a 2-0 win at the New York Red Bulls on April 9, the second MLS assist of his career. Assisted Dom Dwyer's goal in a 2-1 loss to the Colorado Rapids on April 13. Assisted Diego Rubio's goal in a 1-1 draw at Vancouver on April 27. Tallied a game-winning assist to Jacob Peterson in a 2-1 victory over Orlando City SC on May 15. Assisted Jacob Peterson's goal in a 3-0 win over Seattle Sounders FC on July 24. Assisted Dom Dwyer's goal in a 2-2 draw against LA Galaxy on Sept. 18. Open Cup: Started one match (99 minutes played). Started and played 99 minutes in a 2-1 extra time win over Minnesota United FC on June 15. CONCACAF Champions League: Started and played 90 minutes in a 2-2 draw at Central FC on Aug. 16. Started and played 90 minutes in a 3-0 loss at Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Aug. 23. MLS Cup Playoffs: Started and played 90 minutes in a 1-0 knockout round defeat at Seattle Sounders FC on Oct. 27.
2015: MLS regular season: Made 22 appearances with 10 starts, recorded one assist and contributed to seven clean sheets (1074 minutes played). Made his MLS debut in second half stoppage time of a 4-2 win over New England on May 20 before playing 32 minutes in a 0-0 draw at Seattle on May 23. Made his first MLS start in a 1-0 win at Vancouver on July 12, playing the full 90 minutes. Assisted Marcel de Jong's goal in a 3-2 loss at Columbus Crew SC on Aug. 22, the first assist of his MLS career. MLS Cup Playoffs: Started and played 120 minutes in Sporting KC's 7-6 penalty kick shootout loss at Portland after a 2-2 draw through regulation. Open Cup: Started one of five appearances and recorded one assist. Played 34 minutes as a second-half substitute in a 1-0 fourth round win over Saint Louis FC on June 16. Played 40 minutes as a second-half substitute in a 6-2 fifth round win over FC Dallas on July 1, recording his first professional assist to Krisztian Nemeth. Came on as a stoppage-time substitute in the second half of a 3-1 quarterfinal win over the Houston Dynamo on July 21. Started and played 90 minutes in a 3-1 semifinal win over Real Salt Lake on Aug. 12. Played 42 minutes as a second-half substitute in a championship win over the Philadelphia Union on Sept. 30 as Sporting KC prevailed 7-6 in penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw in regulation. NASL (San Antonio Scorpions): Earned five starts and played 450 minutes. Made his NASL debut with a 90-minute outing on April 4.
COLLEGE: Abdul-Salaam played three seasons at Akron (2012-2014), recording three goals and 12 assists in 54 college games. He became a regular starter during his junior campaign in 2013, recording five assists in 19 starts. He earned All-MAC First Team honors in 2014 as a senior, notching two goals and a team-high six assists while starting all 21 games for the Zips.
