CJ Sapong
Sapong with the Philadelphia Union in 2017
Personal information
Full name Charles Nana Kwabena Sapong
Date of birth (1988-12-27) December 27, 1988
Place of birth Manassas, Virginia, United States
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
D.C. United
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2010 James Madison Dukes 67 (35)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009 Fredericksburg Gunners 8 (0)
2010 Reading United 11 (4)
2011–2014 Sporting Kansas City 110 (20)
2013 → Orlando City (loan) 4 (1)
2015–2018 Philadelphia Union 123 (36)
2019–2020 Chicago Fire 43 (15)
2021–2023 Nashville SC 74 (17)
2023 Toronto FC 20 (1)
International career‡
2012–2018 United States 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of November 2, 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of March 30, 2019

Charles "CJ" Nana Kwabena Sapong (/səˈpɒŋ/; born December 27, 1988) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward.

Born in Manassas, Virginia, Sapong was part of the D.C. United youth academy before playing college soccer for the James Madison Dukes. After playing four seasons with James Madison, Sapong was drafted in the first round of the 2011 MLS SuperDraft by Sporting Kansas City as the 11th overall pick.

After his debut professional season, Sapong was named the MLS Rookie of the Year for 2011. In 2012, Sapong won his first championship, helping Kansas City win the U.S. Open Cup. He then was part of the side that won MLS Cup in 2013. Prior to the 2015 season, Sapong was traded to the Philadelphia Union. He played for the Union for three seasons, converting from a winger to a forward, before being traded to the Chicago Fire in 2019. Sapong has also represented the United States internationally, earning four caps between 2012 and 2018.

Playing career

College

Sapong played college soccer at James Madison University, where he ended his career with 37 goals and 21 assists in four seasons from 2007 to 2010. He was awarded First Team All-Conference and team Offensive MVP honors all four years, a first in program history, and was the CAA Player of the Year as a senior co-captain in 2010. Sapong was a two-time NSCAA First Team All-South Atlantic Region selection. As a freshman, he was named the CAA and VaSID Rookie of the Year and chosen to the Third Team All-South Atlantic Region.[1]

Sapong made eight appearances for Fredericksburg Gunners in the USL Premier Development League in 2009,[2] and made eleven appearances and scored four goals for Reading United during their 2010 PDL season.[3]

Club

Sporting Kansas City

On January 14, 2011, Sapong was drafted #10 overall in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft by Sporting Kansas City.[1] He signed with the club on March 1, 2011.[4] He made his professional debut on March 19, in Kansas City's opening game of the 2011 MLS season against Chivas USA; he scored his first professional goal after just two minutes of the game, helping his team to a 3–2 victory.[5] Sapong was awarded the MLS Rookie of the Year Award for 2011, edging out Perry Kitchen and Michael Farfan, who finished second and third, respectively.[6]

Orlando City

Sapong was loaned to USL Pro's Orlando City in July 2013.[7] On July 18, only a week after being loaned to Orlando, Sapong was recalled by Sporting Kansas City. In total, Sapong scored one goal in three matches while tallying one assist.[8]

Philadelphia Union

On December 8, 2014, Sapong was traded by Kansas City to Philadelphia Union in exchange for a first-round pick in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft.[9] After several seasons of being deployed on the wing with Kansas City, Sapong was positioned as the Union's lone center forward, taking advantage of his strength and hold-up play.[10] He led the Union in goals during the 2015 season (with 9) and would build on those totals in subsequent seasons. He scored his first career hat-trick in Philadelphia's 3–0 victory over the New York Red Bulls at Talen Energy Stadium on May 6, 2017.[11]

On October 22, 2017, Sapong broke the Union's (and his own) single-season scoring record, previously held by Sebastian Le Toux (14 goals during the 2010 season). At home against Orlando City, on the final day of the season, Sapong scored his fifteenth and sixteenth goals for the record.[12]

Chicago Fire

On February 23, 2019, Sapong was traded by Philadelphia to Chicago Fire in exchange for up to $450,000 in Allocation Money.

The specifics of the Allocation Money are as follows: $200,000 in 2019 General Allocation Money, $100,000 in 2020 Targeted Allocation Money, and an additional $100,000 in 2019 General Allocation Money to be conveyed to Philadelphia should the Chicago Fire acquire said funds this year.

If the Fire do not acquire an additional $100,000 in 2019 General Allocation Money to convey to Philadelphia this season, then that money conveys as GAM in 2020, and the Union also receive $50,000 in 2020 Targeted Allocation Money from Chicago should Sapong hit certain performance incentives in 2019.[13]

Sapong's contract with the club expired at the end of the 2020 season.[14]

Nashville SC

On February 10, 2021, Sapong signed as a free agent with Nashville SC.[15]

Toronto FC

On April 25, 2023, Sapong was traded to Toronto FC for Lukas MacNaughton and up to $200,000 of general allocation money.[16] At the end of the 2023 season, the club declined his option for the 2024 season.[17]

International

On January 21, 2012, Sapong made his debut for the senior side of the United States (as a second-half substitute) in the 1–0 win over Venezuela in a friendly match. On November 14, 2017, Sapong made his first start for the United States in a friendly against Portugal, notching an assist with an incisive pass to Weston McKennie.

Personal life

Born in the United States, Sapong is of Ghanaian descent.[18] On February 23, 2017, Sapong helped launch the Sacred Seeds foundation, which promotes and enhances the growth of underserved communities through sustenance and self-sustainability.[19][20] He was inspired by his own experiences recovering from injuries during his soccer career and being reluctant to rely on painkillers rather than more nutritional methods.

On May 1, 2015, Sapong was arrested for DUI and reckless driving.[21] He was found not guilty of the DUI charge but still faced the reckless driving charge and was still forced to have attended an MLS league-mandated stint at a treatment facility in Malibu, California. Sapong has credited the experience with having "changed [his] life."[21]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played September 24, 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Playoffs National cup Continental[lower-alpha 1] Other[lower-alpha 2] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Sporting Kansas City 2011 Major League Soccer 3453110–—386
2012 3192052–—3811
2013 254512050—375
2014 202102040—272
Total 11020112102900014024
Orlando City (loan) 2013 USL Pro 41–00–—41
Philadelphia Union 2015 Major League Soccer 279–40–—319
2016 3171010–—337
2017 3316–21–—3517
2018 3241031–—365
Total 1233620102––13538
Chicago Fire 2019 Major League Soccer 3213–1010—3413
2020 11[lower-alpha 3]2–––—112
Total 4315–1010004515
Nashville SC 2021 Major League Soccer 331220––—3512
2022 3351031–—376
2023 800000––80
Total 7417303100008018
Toronto FC 2023 Major League Soccer 201–10–10221
Career total 370901622551001037797
  1. ↑ Includes CONCACAF Champions League
  2. ↑ Includes Leagues Cup
  3. ↑ Includes three appearances in MLS is Back Tournament group stage

International

As of match played January 28, 2018[22]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
United States 201220
201710
201810
Total40

Honors

Sporting Kansas City

Individual

References

  1. 1 2 "Sporting Kansas City Selects C.J. Sapong". Sporting Kansas City. Archived from the original on December 19, 2013. Retrieved January 18, 2011.
  2. ↑ "United Soccer Leagues (USL)". Archived from the original on October 8, 2012. Retrieved January 18, 2011.
  3. ↑ "United Soccer Leagues (USL)". Archived from the original on June 10, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Sporting KC Signs Three to MLS Contracts". sportingkc.com. Sporting Kansas City. March 1, 2011. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Bravo's debut double for Sporting sinks Chivas USA". mlssoccer.com. Major League Soccer. March 19, 2011. Archived from the original on April 15, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Sporting KC's Sapong named Rookie of the Year". mlssoccer.com. Major League Soccer. November 8, 2011. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Sporting KC sends Sapong, Ellis to Orlando City on loan". kansascity.com. Sporting Kansas City. July 11, 2013. Archived from the original on December 19, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Orlando City Stats". uslsoccer.com. United Soccer League. Archived from the original on August 4, 2013. Retrieved July 19, 2013.
  9. ↑ "Philadelphia Union acquires forward C.J. Sapong from Sporting Kansas City". Philadelphia Union. Archived from the original on December 14, 2014. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  10. ↑ Matt Doyle (July 2, 2017). "CJ Sapong and his hold-up play". MLSsoccer.com. Archived from the original on March 5, 2018. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  11. ↑ Bodiford, Matt (May 6, 2017). "CJ Sapong records first career hat-trick as Philadelphia defeats New York Red Bulls 3–0". Philadelphia Union.
  12. ↑ John Rossi (October 22, 2017). "CJ Sapong breaks Union's single-season scoring record". Brotherly Game. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  13. ↑ "Philadelphia Union Acquire Up To $450,000 In Allocation Money From Chicago Fire For CJ Sapong". philadelphiaunion.com. Philadelphia Union. February 23, 2019. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  14. ↑ mlssoccer. "MLS contract options: Who's staying and who's going entering 2021 offseason | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  15. ↑ "Nashville SC Acquires 10-Year Major League Soccer Veteran Striker CJ Sapong".
  16. ↑ "Nashville Soccer Club Acquires Lukas MacNaughton and Receives up to $200,000 in General Allocation Money from Toronto FC in Exchange for CJ Sapong".
  17. ↑ "Toronto FC announce 2023 Roster Moves". Toronto FC. November 2, 2023.
  18. ↑ "Ghanaian-American CJ Sapong joins MLS club Chicago Fire". Africans in America. February 24, 2019.
  19. ↑ Jacob Born (March 29, 2017). "Sapong sprouting growth with his foundation Sacred Seeds". Philadelphia Union. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  20. ↑ "About Sacred Seeds". Sacred Seeds. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  21. 1 2 Carlisle, Jeff (April 27, 2017). "Philadelphia Union's C.J. Sapong: DUI 'changed my life'". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  22. ↑ C. J. Sapong at National-Football-Teams.com
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