KANSAS CITY, Kan. — In a significant shift for the team, Sporting Kansas City announced on Thursday that they will not be re-signing captain Johnny Russell, goalkeeper Tim Melia, or defender Andreu Fontas. This decision comes after one of the most challenging seasons in the team’s history, which was marked by disappointing results.

Johnny Russell, who is 34 years old and had his contract expire, has been with Sporting Kansas City since 2018. During his time with the team, he has played in 232 games, netting 67 goals and providing 39 assists. Russell quickly garnered affection from the fan base and has held the role of captain for the past three years.

Tim Melia, now 38, was recognized as the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year in 2017 and played a crucial role in securing two U.S. Open Cup titles for Sporting KC. His contract also came to an end, along with those of Fontas and midfielder Remi Walter.

The club made decisions regarding contract options for various players, opting to retain Stephen Afrifa, William Agada, Zorhan Bassong, Logan Ndenbe, Memo Rodriguez, Ryan Schewe, and Robert Voloder. Meanwhile, the team declined to pick up options on Chris Rindov, Ozzie Cisneros, Danny Flores, and Robert Castellanos.

In June, Sporting Kansas City appointed Mike Burns as the new sporting director, who previously worked with MLS and spent 15 seasons at the New England Revolution. Burns will assist manager Peter Vermes in reassessing the team’s roster and will oversee the club’s player development initiatives.

Sporting KC finished the recent season with a record of 8 wins, 19 losses, and 7 draws, accumulating a total of 31 points. This performance is regarded as the most disappointing in the club’s history for a full 34-game season, second only to the record of 8 wins and 24 losses set in 1999 when the team was known as the Wizards.