Sporting Kansas City II announced this past weekend that the club signed Sporting Kansas City Academy forward Aiden Benitez to an MLS NEXT Pro amateur contract ahead of Friday's game at Austin FC II. Benitez recently committed to Coach Paul Snape at Butler and will compete with the Bulldogs this fall.
 
Amateur contracts are signed on a single-game basis, preserving Benitez's NCAA eligibility. He was available for selection for the team's road test at Austin this past Friday and made an appearance in the 70^th minute.
 
Benitez joined the Sporting Kansas City Academy in the fall of 2022 and has represented the U-17s and U-18s. The forward has competed at numerous prestigious MLS NEXT events, including three Generation adidas Cups and the 2024 MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs. He helped the 2024 U-17s earn a spot in the GA Cup Quarterfinals with a match-leveling penalty in stoppage time and a game-sealing kick in the shootout. The Indianapolis, Indiana, native has received national team call-ups to both the Mexican U-16s and El Salvador's U-20s.