3 Former LA Galaxy Stars on Sporting Kansas City now | OneFootball

With 30% of the regular season already played, the Los Angeles Galaxy will visit the state of Kansas to face their next opponent. Fortunately for the winless defending champions, they play Sporting Kansas City on Sunday (2-1-7).

These two Western Conference foes have some history between them. With 45 matches in the record books, this next chapter will mark #46.

While the LA Galaxy's roster (and record) look vastly different this season, a couple players will still be fairly recognizable once kickoff ensues.

Here are the three former LA Galaxy stars that are currently on Sporting Kansas City's roster.

1. Dejan Joveljic, Forward

The Serbian forward was a savior for the LA Galaxy during his tenure, specifically last season. He scored a career-high 15 goals and tied his previous career-high of five assists in 2024.

He found the back of the next six more times in the playoffs. That accounted for a third of the LA Galaxy's postseason scoring.

Financial constraints with the Los Angeles Galaxy's salary cap forced general manager Will Kuntz into a bind. He traded Joveljic to Sporting for $4 million before the 2025 MLS season started. The forward is in the last year of his current deal.

In his first ten games with KC, Joveljic has scored five times and been credited with one assist. His shooting has been more accurate since joining Sporting.

Joveljic had 15 goals on 58 shot attempts last season. That was good for 25.86% on the year. So far in 2025, he has scored 35.71% of his 14 shot attempts. That's nearly a 10% increase.

Hopefully the LA Galaxy won't get burned by their former offensive star on Sunday.

2. Memo Rodriguez, Midfielder

The 29-year-old veteran also has shared time between both soccer clubs. Rodriguez has also played for Austn FC and FC Dallas.

He joined the Sporting Kansas City in 2024 after his lone season with the LA Galaxy the season prior. Rodriguez tallied one goal and one assist last year. He started in nine games for the Galaxy in 2023.

Rodriguez doubled his number of starts in his first season with Sporting. His offensive stats strengthened as he scored twice and racked up six assists.

In his seven games this season, the former Galaxy midfielder has taken three shots attempts. If the LA Galaxy are to pick up their first win of the MLS season, Rodriguez needs to be one of many players who are held scoreless, again.

3. John Pulskamp, Goalkeeper

Having played the past six seasons for Sporting, the 24-year-old keeper never played for the Los Angeles Galaxy's main roster. However, he was a member of their second unit, Ventura County FC.

With good fortune for the Los Angeles Galaxy, his second clean sheet doesn't come on Sunday when these two teams do battle once more.