Ryan Smith leaving Sporting KC

? Sporting Kansas City says Ryan Smith is leaving the MLS team for family reasons and will not be back this season.

The 24-year-old Smith was signed before the 2010 season and appeared in 26 games, recording three goals and seven assists. He missed the first four games of this season after offseason knee surgery and the past three games with a groin strain. He had one goal in six games.

Manager Peter Vermes says it’s not easy for international players to live in the U.S. and that was the case with Smith, who is from England. He says Smith needed to be closer to home.