3. SPORTING SIGNS DEFENDER JOAQUIN FERNANDEZ

Sporting Kansas City has signed 28-year-old Spanish center back Joaquin Fernandez, the club announced last week. Joaquin has signed an MLS contract until 2025 and will take up an international spot on Sporting’s squad.

Joaquin is a 6’3″ centre-back who can also play in defensive midfield. He has made over 300 professional appearances during his 12-year European career, including 85 games in Spain’s top flight, La Liga, with Real Valladolid.

Joaquin joined UD Almeria’s youth academy in his hometown and made his senior debut for Almeria B in the Spanish third division in December 2012 as a 16-year-old. He was promoted to Almeria’s first team in the Spanish Segunda in 2015. Joaquin was a regular for Almeria from 2016 to 2018, making 35 appearances in each season.

In 2018, Joaquin earned promotion to La Liga by signing with newly promoted Real Valladolid. Joaquin was a regular in La Liga from 2018 to 2021, and although Valladolid were relegated to the second division in 2021, the team returned to the top flight by finishing second in the Spanish Segunda in 2021/22. Joaquin made a career-high 27 La Liga appearances in 2022/23, playing his final game for Valladolid in a 3-1 win over European giants FC Barcelona on 23 May 2023.

In June 2023, Joaquin moved abroad for the first time in his career, joining Turkish club Trabzonspor. He made 17 appearances and helped Trabzonspor finish third in the league and qualify for the UEFA Europa League.