Sporting Kansas City announced today that the club has signed Sporting KC II midfielders Shane Donovan and Johann Ortiz along with defender Pierre Lurot to short-term agreements and all three players will be available for the club’s road match against the LA Galaxy on Saturday night. The call ups mark the fourth and final available short-term agreement for the 2026 season for Donovan, as well as the second for Lurot and the first for Ortiz.
Donovan, 19, signed a professional contract with SKC II in 2025 after rising through the ranks in the SKC Academy. After moving to Kansas City from Massachusetts in 2021, Donovan represented the club at the U-15 through U-19 levels before gaining experience with SKC II on an amateur contract in 2024. As a professional in 2025, Donovan made 27 appearances for SKC II and led the team with 45 key passes in MLS NEXT Pro. Donovan made his Sporting KC debut as a late substitute in last Saturday’s 1-0 setback against San Diego FC.
Lurot, 24, is entering his second season with SKC II after joining the club ahead of the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro campaign out of the University of Michigan. The Frenchman made 27 appearances for SKC II during his rookie season, tallying his first professional goal with a late equalizer against North Texas SC on Sept. 14, 2025. Lurot was part of a Michigan Wolverines side that advanced to the Big Ten Championship final and punched a ticket to the NCAA Tournament in 2024. Lurot previously started his college journey at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Missouri, before transferring to the University of Indianapolis.
Ortiz, 19, signed a professional deal with SKC II in 2025 and has tallied three goals and seven assists in 38 appearances for the team. He made his professional debut with SKC II at the age of 17 on March 17, 2024 and went on to tally two goals and three assists on an amateur contract in 2024 before signing a professional contract in 2025, adding one goal and four assists last season. Ortiz, a native of Arkansas, joined the Sporting KC Academy in 2018 and represented the club at the U-12 through U-19 levels. Ortiz recently returned to Kansas City after helping El Salvador punch their ticket to the 2026 U-20 Concacaf Championship, tallying three goals and one assist throughout the 2026 Concacaf Qualifiers.
Kickoff for the Walmart Saturday Showdown against the LA Galaxy at Dignity Health Sports Park is set for 8:30 p.m. CT on Saturday night with the game broadcast on Apple TV, Sports Radio 810 WHB and La Grande 1340 AM.
Transaction: Sporting Kansas City (MLS) signs Shane Donovan, Pierre Lurot and Johann Ortiz to short-term agreements from Sporting KC II (MLS NEXT Pro).
VITALS
Shane Donovan
Number: 88
Position: Midfielder
Birthdate: 1/6/2007 (19 years old)
Height: 5-7
Weight: 135 lbs.
Hometown: Boston, MA
Birthplace: Boston, MA
Citizenship: USA
VITALS
Johann Ortiz (joe-HAHN)
Number: 76
Position: Midfielder
Birthdate: 1/1/2007 (19 years old)
Height: 5-8
Weight: 165 lbs.
Hometown: Springdale, AR
Birthplace: Fayetteville, AR
Citizenship: USA, El Salvador
VITALS
Pierre Lurot (luh-ROH)
Number: 41
Position: Defender
Birthdate: 3/11/2002 (24 years old)
Height: 6-3
Weight: 170 lbs.
Hometown: Bourges, France
Birthplace: Bourges, France
Citizenship: France
