Sporting Kansas City II announced today that the club has signed 20-year-old Spanish forward Pau Vidal to an MLS NEXT Pro professional contract ahead of the 2023 season.
A native of Valencia, Spain, Vidal has spent each of the last three seasons within the system of well-established Spanish club Villarreal CF. The 2020-21 campaign saw Vidal score 11 goals in 21 appearances at the U-19 level, setting the stage for his jump from the youth to the professional ranks.
Vidal has played 34 matches for Villarreal C over the previous season and a half, scoring three times. He will arrive in Kansas City after making 13 appearances for the Yellow Submarine during the 2022-23 campaign.
The acquisition of Vidal gives Sporting KC II a total of 12 players signed to MLS NEXT Pro professional contracts, as detailed below.
Sporting KC II Roster (as of Jan. 12, 2023)
- Goalkeepers (1): Ethan Bandre
- Defenders (5): Aljaz Dzankic, Coby Jones, Mikey Lenis, Jahon Rad, Diedie Traore
- Midfielders (2): Ethan Bryant, Enzo Mauriz
- Forwards (4): Bakary Bagayoko, Josh Coan, Andrew Draper, Pau Vidal
Led by head coach and longtime Sporting midfielder Benny Feilhaber, Sporting KC II will begin preparations in February for the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro season, which will feature an expanded field of 28 clubs.
Transaction: Sporting Kansas City II (MLS NEXT Pro) signs forward Pau Vidal to an MLS NEXT Pro professional contract.
VITALS
- Pau Vidal (vee-DAHL)
- Position: Forward
- Born: 3/24/2002 (20 years old)
- Height: 6-0
- Weight: 160 lbs.
- Hometown: Valencia, Spain
- Birthplace: Valencia, Spain
- Previous Club: Villarreal CF C (Spain)
