New York City FC might not have lost Khiry Shelton to the expansion draft, but he’s heading out the door anyway.
The club announced Thursday it has traded the once highly touted forward to Sporting Kansas City for defender Saad Abdul-Salaam in a straight swap.
Both players were left unprotected but were passed over by Los Angeles FC in the expansion draft Tuesday.
For NYCFC, Abdul-Salaam, 26, could become quite the coup if he can regain the form he displayed in 2016, when he grabbed Sporting KC’s Defender of the Year honors. The wingback, who could slot on the right side for Patrick Vieira, had his role reduced in 2017 after Sporting KC decided to shift Graham Zusi to the back line. Abdul-Salaam appeared in just 12 games, with many of those as spot starts while Zusi was on United States international duty.
“It’s a huge honor to have Patrick Vieira and Claudio Reyna pursue me as a player,” Abdul-Salaam told the team’s website. “After matches with NYCFC — always saying ‘good game’ to Patrick — it always felt like it was a good connection.”
In three seasons with Sporting KC, Abdul-Salaam played 64 games, scoring one goal and tallying eight assists.
Shelton, 24, was NYCFC’s first-ever draft pick when the club selected him at No. 2 in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft, but never truly fulfilled his promise. Marred by injuries for three seasons, Shelton’s production fell way off in 2017, when he scored just once in 15 games, including three starts.
“The fresh start at Sporting KC will be good for him,” sporting director Claudio Reyna said in a press release. “We’re really thankful for all of his commitment and professionalism and we wish him the very best for the future.”
NYCFC also addressed their goalkeeping depth Thursday, trading for the Columbus Crew’s Brad Stuver in exchange for a 2019 fourth-round SuperDraft pick.
Stuver, 26, joins NYCFC keepers Sean Johnson and Andre Rawls, who all will compete for the starting role in 2018. Selected with the 32nd pick in 2013, Stuver appeared in just two games with the Crew, including against NYCFC at Yankee Stadium during the 2016 season.
“My first experience of Yankee Stadium was my second professional game and you could just tell that the fans are dedicated to the team and that the city is behind this club – it left a lasting impression with me,” Stuver said in a press release. “I’m really looking forward to getting started in New York and working with (Rob Vartughian), Sean (Johnson) and Andre (Rawls), competing for that spot and improving together.”
Reyna elaborated on the club’s decision to target Stuver in particular.
“Brad fits the profile of goalkeeper we wanted to bring to NYCFC. He is a good shot stopper with really good feet and will be an excellent addition to our club,” Reyna said. “We are getting a player who is motivated and excited to compete with our goalkeepers and, at the age of 26, will only continue to improve in the coming years.