Sporting Kansas City announced today that the club has selected former Chicago Fire goalkeeper Richard Sanchez in Stage 1 of the 2019 MLS Re-Entry Draft.

At age 25, Sanchez already has nine seasons of professional experience under his belt after developing in the FC Dallas Academy and competing in the United States and Mexico. He has spent the last three seasons in MLS with the Chicago Fire, where he totaled 90 saves across 27 league appearances.

On the international stage, Sanchez was the starting goalkeeper and played all seven matches for Mexico as El Tri captured the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup title on home soil. He was also Mexico’s starting keeper at the 2013 U-20 World Cup two years later, helping his side reach the Round of 16.

Born in Mission Hills, California before moving to Little Elm, Texas, Sanchez joined the prestigious Atletico Madrid Academy in Spain in 2008. He moved back to Texas the following year and developed in the FC Dallas Academy, signing as an MLS Homegrown Player in February 2011.

FC Dallas loaned Sanchez to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in 2013, where he made his professional debut in the North American Soccer League. He was sold to Liga MX powerhouse Tigres UANL a year later and went on loan to both FC Dallas (2014) and Mexican side Tampico Madero (2016-2017) during his time with the Los Tigres.

After a three-year spell in Mexico, Sanchez returned to MLS in August 2017 when he joined the Fire. He earned his MLS debut the following month and was Chicago’s starting keeper for most of the 2018 campaign, starting 24 of 25 regular season appearances.

With Tuesday’s Re-Entry Draft acquisition, Sporting Kansas City now has three goalkeepers on its roster heading into the 2020 season: Sanchez, Eric Dick and Tim Melia. For a full list of Sporting’s offseason roster moves, visit SportingKC.com/tracker.

Stage 2 of the 2019 MLS Re-Entry Draft will take place next Tuesday, Dec. 3, at 2 p.m. CT.

VITALS

Richard Sanchez

Position: Goalkeeper

Number: TBD

Born: 4/5/1994 (25 years old)

Height: 6-3

Weight: 197 lbs.

Hometown: Little Elm, Texas

Birthplace: Mission Hills, California

Citizenship: Mexico, USA

Previous Club: Chicago Fire