Kayden Pierre signed with Sporting as a Homegrown player early in the 2021 season after impressing at preseason camp in Arizona with the Sporting KC first team. He made his debut for the club against Club Leon in the Leagues Cup on Aug. 10, 2021 before making his MLS debut at Colorado on March 12, 2022. He enjoyed a breakout spell over the summer of 2022 with senior right back Graham Zusi sidelined through injury, as Pierre made 12 of his 19 appearances on the season between June 25-Sept. 17.
Pierre joined the Sporting KC Academy in 2018 from Vardar SC in his native Michigan. He represented Sporting at the U-15, U-17 and U-19 levels and helped guide the U-17s to the Academy Playoffs in 2019. Capable of playing at left back and right back, Pierre gained his first professional experience in 2020 when he signed an amateur academy contract with SKC II.
PROFESSIONAL
2023: Made two appearances in all competitions during an injury-affected season. MLS Regular Season: Made one substitute appearance, playing the final five minutes of the 2-1 loss at FC Dallas on March 18. MLS Cup Playoffs: Did not feature. Open Cup: Did not feature. Leagues Cup: Made his return from several months out as a 57th-minute substitute in the 4-1 loss to Toluca FC in the Round of 32 on Aug. 4. MLS NEXT Pro: Made three starts from July 2-16 as he worked his way back from injury, logging 180 minutes for Sporting KC II.
2022: Made his MLS debut on March 12 in a match at the Colorado Rapids. MLS Regular Season: Started nine of 19 appearances and picked up his first MLS assist (949 minutes played). Made his first MLS start on July 3 against the New York Red Bulls, playing all 90 minutes. Earned his first assist after setting up Johnny Russell's equalizing goal in a 1-1 draw at Minnesota United on July 13. Open Cup: Started two of three appearances in Sporting's Open Cup run (190 minutes played).
2021: Signed a first-team contract on May 4 but spent most of the season with Sporting KC II. Leagues Cup: Made his first team debut on Aug. 11 in Sporting's Leagues Cup fixture with Leon. MLS Cup Playoffs: Did not feature USL Championship: Made 28 appearances for Sporting KC II in their final season in USL Championship. Scored one goal and picked up two assists.
2020: Signed an Academy contract with Sporting KC II and made three appearances in the latter half of the season.
Sporting KC Academy
Pierre joined the Sporting KC Academy in 2018 from Vardar SC in his native Michigan. Pierre has made 59 appearances for the Academy while advancing from the Under-15 age group up to the Under-17s and Under-19s.
INTERNATIONAL
Pierre was called in to the U.S. Under-16 National Team for a training camp in California in September 2019. His first call-up to the U.S. U-16s came in June 2018 which involved a trip to Bradenton. Prior to that, Pierre was selected for training camps with the U.S. U-14s in 2016 and 2017. Pierre competed with the U.S. U-20s in November 2021 at the Revelations Cup in Celaya, Mexico. He appeared in all three matches at the tournament, marking the U-20 MNT’s return to action for the first time since January 2020 after the 2020 Concacaf U-20 Championship and 2021 FIFA U-20 World Cup were canceled due to Covid-19. Named to the United States U-20 Men’s National Team for a domestic training camp in Frisco, Texas on Oct. 25, 2022.
YOUTH
Pierre represented Vardar SC through the Under-15 level, playing in 33 games for the Michigan-based club.
