Alex Grimm / Getty ImagesAug. 3, 2026 10:17 am EDT Updated Sporting Kansas City has reached a verbal agreement in its negotiations to sign Brazilian winger André Luiz from Olympiakos, sources briefed on the deal tell The Athletic.Sporting KC would pay an initial fee of $18 million plus further in performance-based add-ons, sources add. Sport24 first reported a deal was close.The parties still need to work through final details and put pen to paper on a deal that would include one of the largest transfer fees in MLS history.Luiz, 24, only joined Olympiakos in January from Rio Ave FC. In the first half of the 2025-26 season, he lit up the Portuguese top flight for seven goals and six assists in 19 matches (1,500 minutes). He only had limited minutes with Olympiakos in the second half of the season.
Sporting KC is in the middle of a complete overhaul of its roster and sporting structure in 2026. David Lee took over as sporting director and Rapha Wicky was installed as head coach. As the team built out its front office infrastructure, signings were a bit slow. The team wanted to get it right.Luiz would be the marquee addition, provided the club gets it over the line. (SKC had entered the race for Liverpool legend Mohamed Salah and had emerged as MLS’s top suitor as well, as first reported by The Athletic, but that chase was always viewed as a longshot.)SKC has previously added defenders Moises Mosquera, Or Blorian, Diego Borges and Emir Karic, plus midfielders Lasse Berg Johnsen and Capita Capemba, among its makeover.The club could use the boost, as it sits bottom of the Western Conference with 14 points after 18 matches.
