Kaveh Rad

Sporting Kansas City Homegrown defender Kaveh Rad joined the Sporting KC Academy in 2016. After amassing 65 appearances between the U-15s, U-17s and U-19s he inked an Academy contract with Sporting Kansas City II in 2018 and a professional deal ahead of the 2020 season. Rad became the 16th Homegrown Player to sign with Sporting on April 5, 2021, signing as a 19-year-old.

2022: MLS Regular Season: Did not feature. Open Cup: Started one match (100 minutes played). Started and played 100 minutes in Sporting's Round of 32, extra-time win over FC Dallas on May 10. MLS NEXT Pro: Started 10 of 11 appearances for SKC II in the inaugural season of MLS NEXT Pro (798 minutes played).

2021: Signed with the Sporting KC first team on April 5, becoming the 16th homegrown player to sign out of Sporting's Academy. MLS Regular Season: Started two of five appearances (244 minutes played). Debuted for the club on May 1 in a road match at Real Salt Lake, playing all 90 minutes. MLS Cup Playoffs: Did not feature. Leagues Cup: Started against Leon (90 minutes played). USL Championship: Made 10 starts for Sporting KC II, scoring one goal.

2020: Rad signed his first professional contract with Sporting II heading into the 2020 season. Appeared and started in 14 of the 16 games during the shortened campaign, with his side posting four wins during his starts – at Louisville City (July 29), vs. OKC Energy FC (Aug. 22), at FC Tulsa (Aug. 29) and at Indy Eleven (Sept. 30). He led the team in minutes played with 1,260 and passes attempted with 871, completing them at a clip of 84.7 percent.

2019: Rad enjoyed a breakout year, starting 20 of 22 appearances in the USL Championship after signing an Academy contract in preseason. He made his debut as a substitute against Nashville SC (May 11) before earning his first start against Atlanta United 2 the following week (May 19). Rad went on to start 20 of the team’s final 26 matches in the 2019 regular season. He racked up 1,823 minutes in 2019, finishing the year as one of the leaders among minutes played by unsigned Academy players.

2018: Rad signed an Academy contract with the Swope Park Rangers ahead of the 2018 campaign and spent a large part of the year training with the club, though he did not make an appearance.

SKC Academy:

Kaveh Rad joined the Sporting KC Academy in 2016 and has made 65 appearances over the last four years split between the U-15s, U-17s and U-19s, tallying seven goals. Kaveh’s twin brother, Jahon Rad, is also signed to a professional contract with Sporting KC II. He was previously a part of the Capital Area RailHawks Academy in his native North Carolina.