Sporting Kansas City Signs Brazilian Forward André Luiz for Club-Record Fee

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Sporting Kansas City has announced the signing of Brazilian forward André Luiz as a designated player. Luiz has inked a five-year contract with the club for a record transfer fee of $18 million from Greek club Olympiacos, as confirmed by a source. This transfer breaks Sporting KC’s previous record of $7.5 million paid to Mexican club Chivas for Alan Pulido.

The completion of the deal for Luiz is contingent upon the receipt of his visa and international transfer certificate. “André is a dynamic player with pace, directness and technical ability who is coming off an excellent season in Portugal and Greece,” stated David Lee, president of soccer operations for Sporting KC. “At the age of 24, he fits with our model of adding quality players to our roster that still have their prime years ahead of them. André was highly coveted in some of the top leagues in the world, so we are delighted that he has decided to commit his long-term future to Sporting KC.”

Luiz recently enjoyed a breakout season, having scored seven goals and contributed six assists while playing for Rio Ave in Portugal. He joined Olympiacos last January, aiding the club in securing a second-place finish in Greece’s top league.

Starting his career at America Football Club in Rio de Janeiro, Luiz later completed his development in the academy at Flamengo. He spent the 2023-2024 season on loan to Portuguese club Estrela before signing with Rio Ave in January 2025.

Sporting KC, currently positioned last in the Western Conference with a record of 4-2-13, is undergoing an aggressive rebuilding phase under new principal owner Peter Mallouk. This initiative includes new front-office executives and first-year head coach Raphael Wicky, alongside a series of ambitious roster moves, including attempts to sign Egyptian star Mohamed Salah.

Special Credits: Image Courtesy of Espn