TUKWILA, Wash. – Jordan Morris has a written contract offer from the Seattle Sounders. But Seattle general manager Garth Lagerwey says the offer is just a formality, made with a full understanding that the Stanford University junior is likely staying in school for the time being.
Speaking with the media at Seattle’s training session on Friday, Lagerwey confirmed a Sports Illustrated report that the Sounders have extended Morris an offer, but quickly added that he doesn’t necessarily expect that development to accelerate the process of Morris turning pro.
“The written contract offer is a formality,” Lagerwey said. “It’s not an event in the sense that it changes anything or it’s a different conversation. I think Jordan has known for a long time that we want to sign him, and Jordan’s going to make whatever decision is best for him and we’re okay with it. … I don't anticipate any change in the status quo. I think that ship actually sailed a long time ago.”
Morris vaulted further into the spotlight after scoring goals for the US national team and the US Under-23 squad in recent international friendlies against Mexico. He is also a former member of Seattle’s youth academy teams and can be signed by the Sounders as a Homegrown player.
Morris has said that he is enjoying the college experience and is in no rush to take his game to the professional ranks, even as speculation is sure to mount with each international call-up. But he’s also said that the Sounders are likely to be in his future plans when he does deem it time to take the next step.
“Right now, I really want to go play for Seattle,” Morris told the Stanford Daily earlier this year. “It’s a very comfortable place for me. If the offer is there after a couple of years [to go to Europe], then going there could potentially be an option. But right now, I am definitely going to Seattle.”
- Get more Seattle news at SoundersFC.com
Lagerwey stressed that the Sounders have accepted that Morris is committed to his own timetable for turning pro and that the recent rise to prominence on the international stage doesn't change anything as far as negotiations are concerned.
“Sincerely, we thought Jordan was a good player three years ago when he went to Stanford,” Lagerwey said. “More people have figured out that Jordan’s a good player, but we got to see Jordan, so we thought he was a good player a long time ago. I think Jordan has a good relationship with the Sounders. I have nothing to indicate differently.”
