Sporting Kansas City II has signed 25-year-old Honduran international forward Yeison Mejia to an MLS NEXT Pro professional contract, the club announced today.
Mejia boasts nearly five years of professional experience with almost 100 club appearances in his native country as well as Guatemala. The winger is also a member of the Honduras Men's National Team, having been on the most recent Los Catrachos squad for a friendly against 2022 FIFA World Cup participant Saudi Arabia on Oct. 30, 2022.
Mejia developed as a youth player in the academy of Honduran powerhouse Olimpia. He spent the 2018-19 season on loan at fellow Honduran side Parrillas One and later at Guatemalan second division outfit Sansare, then returned to his home country in 2020 for a stint with Real Sociedad, where he scored three goals in 21 league appearances.
Honduran first-division club Real Espana acquired Mejia ahead of the 2021 clausura campaign, marking the start of a successful three-season run for the versatile attacker. He made 15 appearances during the latter half of the 2020-21 campaign, tallying one goal, and remained a mainstay for the team in 2021-22 by making 33 league appearances.
Prior to arriving in Kansas City, Mejia enjoyed a strong 2022-23 season by logging two goals and four assists in 20 league matches while also scoring once in five appearances in the 2022 Concacaf League, the region's second-tier continental competition. He bagged his goal against Costa Rican foe Herediano in the quarterfinals of the tournament, vaulting Real Espana to the semfinals where they lost to runners-up Alajuelense.
On the international stage, Mejia was first summoned to the Honduran national team in October 2020 for a friendly against Nicaragua, though he did not feature in the match. More recently, he was an unused sub in Honduras' 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia last October, a game that took place three weeks before the Saudis earned a stunning upset win over eventual champion Argentina in the World Cup group stage.
With Mejia officially onboard, Sporting KC II now has 16 players signed to MLS NEXT Pro professional contracts.
Sporting KC II Roster (as of Feb. 13, 2023)
- Goalkeepers (1): Ethan Bandre
- Defenders (7): Mo Abualnadi, Aljaz Dzankic, Coby Jones, Mikey Lenis, Nassim Mekideche, Jahon Rad, Diedie Traore
- Midfielders (2): Ethan Bryant, Enzo Mauriz
- Forwards (6): Bakary Bagayoko, Josh Coan, Andrew Draper, Yeison Mejia, Amadou Traore, Pau Vidal
Led by head coach and longtime Sporting midfielder Benny Feilhaber, Sporting KC II will begin preseason training this week ahead of the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro campaign, which will kick off in late March and feature an expanded field of 28 clubs.
Transaction: Sporting Kansas City II signs forward Yeison Mejia to an MLS NEXT Pro professional contract.
VITALS
Yeison Mejia (JAY-son meh-HEE-ah)
Position: Forward
Born: 1/18/1998 (25 years old)
Height: 5-10
Weight: 165 lbs.
Birthplace: Iriona, Honduras
Citizenship: Honduras
Instagram: @y_mejia12
