Sporting Kansas City II has signed 17-year-old midfielder Bailey Sparks to an Academy contract, the club announced today. Sparks, who most recently represented Academy club Solar Soccer Club in Dallas, Texas, will be added to the roster pending league and federation approval.
Sparks arrives in Kansas City having led Solar SC to the U-17 Boys’ Development Academy Championship during the 2018-19 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season last summer, playing a pivotal role in the run. Sparks had a goal and an assist in the 3-2 victory over the LA Galaxy in the semifinal, before recording another assist in the final: a 1-1 draw with Concorde Fire that Solar won 4-2 on penalty kicks.
Sparks’ performance during the postseason tournament earned him the Golden Ball for the U-17 division, honoring the best player of the USSDA Playoffs.
In the curtailed 2019-20 Development Academy season, Sparks made 15 appearances for the club’s U-19 team, tallying 10 goals. Since the start of 2016, Sparks played in 100 games for Solar SC and found the net 48 times.
The Dallas, Texas native previously took part in a training stint in Amsterdam, Netherlands as part of the Generation adidas International AFC Ajax Select Program. Sparks was one of 32 players selected from across the U.S. to take part in the camp in 2017 when he was 14.
On the international stage, Sparks has represented the U.S. U-17 National Team within the past year, joining Sporting KC Academy products Jake Davis and Tucker Lepley at the Nike International Friendlies held in Lakewood Ranch, Fla. in November 2019.
VITALS
Bailey Sparks
Position: Midfielder
Born: 12/30/2002 (17 years old)
Height: 6-0
Weight: 150 lbs.
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Birthplace: Tampa, Fla.
Citizenship: USA
Twitter: @sparksbailey12
Instagram: @bailey_sparks
