Sporting KC brings back a familiar player. Here’s when he’ll be available for action

Sporting Kansas City announced the return of a familiar face on Thursday: former designated player Felipe Gutierrez.

After getting out of his contract with United Arab Emirates club Al Wasl through mutual agreement, Gutierrez joins Sporting (6-10-6) on a free transfer.

His contract runs through the end of the 2023 season, with an option for 2024. He will not occupy a designated player spot this time.

Both Sporting manager Peter Vermes and Gutierrez called it an easy decision to come back to Sporting.

“He’s always been an incredible competitor,” Vermes said, “and he’s got a winning mentality, which is a great addition as well.”

Gutierrez also enjoyed playing within Sporting’s system in the past, which helped make a return possible.

“When I was here, it was a joy to play the way we played,” Gutierrez said. “I want to feel that feeling again. That’s why I decided to come back.”

Gutierrez said he maintained contact with Vermes even when he wasn’t with Sporting, discussing the possibility of returning. Vermes told reporters he never wanted Gutierrez to leave in the first place.

But Gutierrez’s knee injury (the same injury and surgery as both Gadi Kinda and Alan Pulido) in 2020 had him doubting whether he’d return to his previous level again. He even contemplated retiring.

“With the help of my family, my wife supporting me all the time, saying, ‘You can do it,’ I felt good again after seven months,” Gutierrez said.

Gutierrez will be Sporting KC’s Season-Ending Injury (SEI) replacement player for this season. Kortne Ford, who tore his Achilles in the preseason, was placed on the SEI list prior to the opening of the window. This means Sporting cannot compensate Gutierrez any more than Ford’s salary, which was $165,000 in base salary this season, according to the MLS Player’s Association Salary Guide released on April 30.

“We had a choice to make in regards to the season-ending injury with Kortne,” Vermes said. “With that, you’re also making sure that you get somebody that can at least contribute in some way. It really made a lot of sense based on the fact that he’s been here before and knows what we want to do.”

Gutierrez played a vital role in Sporting KC’s 2018 run to the Western Conference Finals. He starred as an attacking midfielder and had his best seasons in terms of goals and assists.

In his two years with Sporting KC, Gutierrez scored 19 goals and registered nine assists. He led the team in goals in 2019 and was named team MVP.

After missing the 2020 season with his knee injury, Gutierrez played for his childhood club in Chile and had a short loan stint with the Colorado Rapids last season.

After receiving his International Transfer Certificate (ITC), Gutierrez will be added to the roster next week. While there is a chance he gets into the match-day roster on Saturday against Houston, he will almost certainly be available for Sporting’s next home match on Wednesday.

As for how he might be used, Gutierrez can play any of the midfield spots within Sporting KC’s system. Based on Vermes’ words on Thursday, Gutierrez is seen as a bench option that could even fill a spot-starting role.

“I need him for situations like this where we have three games in a week,” Vermes said. “And there’s gonna be a big push at the end of the season, and we’ll need him there.”