Football
Associated Press 7y

Benny Feilhaber, Ike Opara re-sign with Sporting Kansas City

KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- Sporting Kansas City signed Benny Feilhaber to a new two-year contract on Wednesday, keeping the 31-year-old midfielder and former U.S. national team member with the club through the 2018 season.

The club also signed defender Ike Opara to a contract for next season, Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes said. The deal includes a team option for the following two seasons.

Financial terms of the agreements were not disclosed.

Feilhaber has led Sporting KC to the playoffs each of the past four seasons, helping the club win the MLS Cup in 2013 and the U.S. Open Cup last year. He has 28 goals and 50 assists across all competition, ranking fourth on the club's career assists chart.

Feilhaber had seven goals and a team-high 13 assists this past season.

"My family and I are very happy to be staying in Kansas City," Feilhaber said in a statement. "I have always loved playing in front of our fans and for this city. It's very exciting to be able to stay here for another two years to help this club win more trophies."

Feilhaber began his professional career in Europe, playing in highly competitive leagues in Germany and England, before joining Major League Soccer. He spent two seasons with New England before joining Sporting KC, where his career has been revitalized.

"It's been our intention all along to do everything we can to re-sign Benny," Vermes said in a statement. "We appreciate the professionalism that he and his agent have shown throughout the process and are very excited that he is coming back to our club. Benny has been an important part of the club's success over the past four years and we look to continue that moving forward."

The 27-year-old Opara has seven goals and three assists in 64 appearances across all competition since joining Sporting KC before the 2013 season.

"We are very happy to be able to re-sign Ike to our club," Vermes said. "He is a first-class individual and he has so much upside as a central defender. He showed a lot of consistency this past year and we hope that continues for years to come."

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