Sporting KC signs pair of homegrown players to MLS contracts

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KCTV) - Sporting Kansas City has signed two of the youngest players in franchise history as homegrown players, the club announced Friday.

Sporting said 16-year-olds Ian James and Jack Kortkamp signed MLS contracts through 2027 with club options for 2028 and 2029. The pair of youthful additions become the 20th and 21st homegrown players to sign through the Sporting Kansas City Academy and the first since Jake Davis signed in August 2021.

James becomes the MLS’ youngest defender and Kortkamp becomes the league’s youngest goalkeeper.

James (16 years, 183 days at signing) and Kortkamp (16 years, 313 days) are the fourth and fifth-youngest players at signing in Sporting KC history. Only Gianluca Busio (15 years, 89 days), Tyler Freeman (15 years, 266 days) and Erik Palmer-Brown (16 years, 100 days) were younger than the pair at signing with Sporting KC.

Kortkamp was born in the Toronto, Ontario, suburb of Oakville, and was raised in Minnesota. He’s played for Sporting KC at the U-14 through U-19 levels and helped the U-19 team win the UPSL regular season division title last spring.

James made three appearances for Sporting KC in the 2024 preseason and later signed an amateur academy contract to play for Sporting KC II.

With dual citizenship, Kortkamp has represented the U.S. national team on several youth stages, as has James. The pair were both previously acquired as Homegrown Priorities via a deal with Minnesota United FC.

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