KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Swope Park Rangers announced on Friday the club had signed Sporting Kansas City Academy’s Ezra Armstrong, Chase Bromstedt, Leroy Enzugusi, Max Rugova, Steven Tekesky, Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal and Patrick Wilkinson to Academy contracts for the upcoming USL season. The signings are pending league and federation approval.

The additions bring the defending USL Western Conference Champions’ roster total to 26, among which 12 are current and former SKC Academy players.

“I think it’s fantastic to have 12 players from the Academy on the team,” Swope Park Rangers Head Coach Nikola Popovic said. “This season is a start for them at the professional level. We have to be careful in how we play them and put them in an environment to succeed. The idea is to create a platform for them to grow and to achieve the level we want to see for the first team.

“Some of them have spent time with the National Team, which is very good and I have high expectations of them. The USL is a very strong league and this will provide them with excellent experience.”

Armstrong, 18, signed an Academy contract with the Rangers last season and made two appearances for the club. He joined the Sporting KC Academy ahead of the 2014-15 season after relocating from Academy affiliate Sporting Nashville Heroes based in Tennessee. So far in the 2016-17 Development Academy season, Armstrong has made nine appearances with the Under-18s. Armstrong, who recorded an assist in a scrimmage against the University of Tulsa on Feb. 26, is the son of Desmond Armstrong – a National Soccer Hall of Famer.