TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS:Extension
Sporting Kansas City announced Friday that goalkeeper Tim Melia has signed a contract extension with the club through 2022.
Since joining the club ahead of the 2015 season, Melia has helped Sporting to four playoff appearances and two Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup titles, while leading MLS with 10 penalty kick saves, four more than any other goalkeeper, over that span. In the same stretch, he also ranks third in shutouts (45), third in wins (62), fourth in saves (456) and fifth in save percentage (71.5%).
Melia also won 2017 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year honors.
“I could not be more excited to extend my contract with a club that has given me so much,” Melia said in a statement. “To play any length of time at such a special and supportive club is something all athletes dream of. I only hope to help contribute in bringing our owners, technical staff, players and fans the rewards that Sporting deserves.”
The 33-year-old sits atop Sporting’s all-time goalkeeping charts in competitive appearances and starts (170 each), games won (74) and clean sheets (53). In regular season play, he ranks first among Sporting goalkeepers in career minutes and saved penalties, second in saves and save percentage, and third in goals against average.
“We are very happy to extend Tim’s contract for the long term,” SKC manager and sporting director Peter Vermes said in a statement. “He has great goalkeeping qualities and has performed at a consistently high level in MLS. Welcoming him for the next three seasons is a big positive for us moving forward.”
After spending his first five MLS seasons as a backup at Real Salt Lake and Chivas USA, Melia served as a league pool goalkeeper during the latter half of 2014 and received an emergency call-up from Sporting in August of that season. He signed permanently for SKC that offseason, and by May 2015 had assumed the team's No. 1 role.
