Sporting KC signs defender Amer Didic to MLS contract
By Ben Almquist
Sporting KC made an addition yesterday, signing 22 year old defender Amer Didic from their USL affiliate, Swope Park Rangers, to an MLS contract.
As they continue to make a push for the Western Conference crown, Sporting KC has called up a young defender from their USL affiliate, the Swope Park Rangers. Defender Amer Didic signed an MLS contract with SKC, and will join the club for the remainder of the year.
Amer Didic is an accomplished young player in the Sporting KC system. He was named to the USL All First Team in 2016, and was a finalist for Defender of the Year honors. Didic was also a part of the Canadian U-23 team that won the tournament in Doha earlier this year.
Adding Didic to the fold is a solid move for a Sporting KC team that will be seeing lost time from star defenders Graham Zusi and Matt Besler as they join the US Men’s National Team (USMNT). Not having both players in the backfield is tough to overcome, and Didic should help the team brace for that loss.
Though born in Bosnia and Herzogovina, and raised in Canada, Amer Didic will fill a domestic spot on the SKC roster. That’s due to a rule change that allows him to hold that spot pending receipt of a P-1 Visa.
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Another Young Gun
Amer Didic is joining a number of young new faces for Sporting KC. That includes former Swope Park teammates Tyler Pasha and Adrian Zendejas who were signed this past December. The move shows that SKC isn’t just looking to win now, but also has their eye on the future.
Didic’s contract puts him on the roster for 2017, but also includes options for 2018, 2019, and 2020. That’s good news for Sporting as Didic appears to be a star in the making. If he can become a staple of their lineup for the long-term, it should help the SKC defense remain one of the best in MLS for the foreseeable future.
Sporting KC certainly appears to have a strong roster for the 2017 season. They currently hold the second seed in the Western Conference, but there is plenty of time to make a push. It won’t be easy for SKC as a number of their best players are likely to see international play. However, getting youngsters like Amer Didic will help ease that impact.