Sporting KC signs local star

Published Jan. 18, 2012 1:17 p.m. ET

foxsports

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) - Sporting Kansas City has signed midfielder Michael Thomas, a hometown player who's spent the past two seasons with Ljungskile SK of the Swedish Superettan.

The team announced the move in a statement Wednesday.

Thomas grew up in suburban Kansas City and led St. Thomas Aquinas High School to three state championships. He later spent time on the same club teams as Sporting KC defenders Seth Sinovic and Matt Besler, then joined Besler at Notre Dame, where he started 81 games and scored 19 goals.

Thomas was drafted by San Jose with the 19th pick in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft before opting to sign with Halmstads BK of the Allsvenskan, Sweden's top division.