Sporting Kansas City acquired Yohan Croizet in a transfer from Belgian side KV Mechelen in December 2017. He signed as a Designated Player on a contract through 2020 with an option for 2021.
2019: MLS regular season: Has started 12 of 20 appearances, recording three goals and two assists (1,091 minutes played). Assisted Johnny Russell's first and third goals in a 3-2 victory over Seattle Sounders FC on May 26. Scored a second-half goal in a 1-1 draw at the Houston Dynamo on June 1. Scored a second-half goal in a 5-1 loss to LAFC on July 3. Scored the game-winner in a 1-0 victory over the Chicago Fire on July 6. Concacaf Champions League: Started one of three appearances (108 minutes played). Made his Champions League debut in a 2-1 quarterfinal first-leg defeat at Independiente on March 6 before appearing as a substitute in a 3-0 second-leg win over the Panamanian side on March 14. Open Cup: Started and played 75 minutes in a Fourth Round loss to Minnesota. MLS Cup Playoffs: Has not featured.
2018: Won Sporting KC Goal of the Year honors for his spectacular game-winning volley in the late stages of a 3-2 victory over FC Dallas in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 on June 16. MLS regular season: Started 19 of 32 appearances, recording three goals and three assists (1,594 minutes played). Made his Sporting KC debut in the 2018 season opener against New York City FC on March 4 at Children's Mercy Park. Assisted Cristian Lobato's goal before opening his MLS scoring account with the final strike of the night in a historic 6-0 hammering of Vancouver Whitecaps FC on April 20. Assisted Daniel Salloi's superb strike in a 4-1 win over Minnesota United FC on June 3. Came off the bench to score the game-winner in a 2-0 defeat of Minnesota United FC on Aug. 25. Tallied the game-winning assist to Felipe Gutierrez in a 1-0 victory over Orlando City SC on Sept. 8. Scored a superb equalizer to kickstart a comeback in a 4-1 victory at Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Oct. 17. Open Cup: Played five minutes as a second-half substitute in a 3-2 victory over FC Dallas in the Round of 16 on June 16, scoring a world-class volley in the 89th minute to win the game. Played 19 minutes as a second-half substitute and scored a late goal in a 4-2 quarterfinal loss at the Houston Dynamo on July 18. MLS Cup Playoffs: Started one of four appearances (105 minutes played). Started and played 90 minutes in a 1-1 conference semifinal first-leg draw at Real Salt Lake on Nov. 4. Played 13 minutes as a second-half substitute in a 4-2 conference semifinal second-leg win over Real Salt Lake on Nov. 11. Came on as a stoppage-time substitute in a 0-0 conference championship first-leg draw at Portland on Nov. 25. Entered as a late substitute in a 3-2 conference championship second-leg loss to Portland on Nov. 29.
CAREER
A native of Sarrebourg, France, Croizet has scored 31 goals in more than 200 professional appearances across Europe. He joins Sporting KC after spending each of the last three seasons in the top-flight Belgian First Division A, where he has tallied 12 goals and 11 assists since 2015.
In his first season with KV Mechelen in 2016-17, Croizet played 37 matches as the Yellow Reds enjoyed their best domestic campaign since 2010. His three goals and four assists helped KV Mechelen to a seventh-place finish and 14 league wins, their most in the Belgian first division since 1993. Croizet has added three assists in 15 appearances during the 2017-18 season.
Prior to joining KV Mechelen, Croizet blossomed during a two-year stint with Belgian outfit OH Leuven. He bagged four goals as OH Leuven won the 2014-15 Belgian Second Division playoffs and earned promotion to the top flight. The following year, Croizet notched a career-high nine goals and added four assists as the team’s top scorer.
Croizet began his professional career as a 19-year-old, debuting for French club FC Metz in August 2011. In addition to competing with the senior team in French Ligue 2, he amassed seven goals in 57 matches for FC Metz II from 2011-13.
Croizet moved from his native France to Belgium ahead of the 2013-14 campaign, signing for RE Virton of the Belgian Second Division. His six goals from the midfield paved the way for his subsequent move to OH Leuven.
