KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Virginia Tech midfielder Danny Flores has signed with MLS team Sporting Kansas City, as announced by the club on Friday.
In two seasons with the Hokies, Flores started in 31 of the 33 games that he appeared in. The Half Moon Bay, Calif. native scored five goals and recorded five assists while with Tech. In 2021, he was selected to the ACC All-Freshman team following his rookie campaign.
"First, I want to say thank you to Virginia Tech for welcoming me in like one of your own," Flores said while reflecting on his time in Blacksburg. "This place has been nothing but a second home to me. The comradery this school has is like none other and I am extremely blessed to have experienced it. I am thankful for the opportunity that Virginia Tech men's soccer was able to provide for me and my family. I am grateful for the trust and opportunity that Coach Briz, Coach Pat, Coach Lofton and Coach Kyle Kenney gave me."
Flores made an instant impact in the Hokies' lineup last season as a deep-lying midfielder, starting in all 19 matches that he appeared in. The YSC Academy graduate recorded his first career goal in dramatic fashion in overtime against Notre Dame on Sept. 24, 2021. He picked apart a multitude of Notre Dame players inside the box before putting the 2-1 overtime winner past the keeper.
At the end of the season, Flores was named the No. 3 freshman in the country in Top Drawer Soccer's Top 100 Freshmen rankings.
In 2022, Flores led the Hokies with four goals through 14 appearances. He added two more assists to his career tally in his sophomore campaign, as well.
Flores becomes the second Virginia Tech player this offseason to sign with an MLS franchise following their sophomore season, joining Ben Martino (Nashville SC). As a whole, Tech's program has had a remarkable run of putting players into the professional ranks in recent years. Since Dani Pereira was drafted No. 1 overall in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft, Kristo Strickler and Sivert Haugli have been drafted, as well. Jacob Labovitz and Kyle McDowell have signed deals with USL franchises, while Tyler Taber penned with his hometown club, Racing FC Union Luxembourg.