Jordan Morris has reportedly been offered a contract by German team Werder Bremen, the latest chapter in the ongoing saga concerning the future of one of US soccer’s brightest young stars.
The offer was first reported by German outfit Weser Kurier and later confirmed by Sports Illustrated’s Grant Wahl:
Morris, 21, is on the hunt for his first professional contract after three standout years at Stanford University capped by a national championship win and the MAC Hermann Trophy, college soccer’s top honor. He is also considering the most lucrative contract offer ever for a Homegrown player from the Seattle Sounders.
After seeing his star rise in the college game, Morris came to national attention when he became the first college player in nearly 20 years to receive a US national team call-up in August 2014 before making his debut in November. He currently has seven appearances for the USMNT under his belt and scored his first international goal in a friendly against Mexico in April. Morris also figures to be a part of the US Under-23 squad that will contest a home-and-home playoff with Colombia in March for a berth in the Rio 2016 Olympics.
Morris has been on trial with Bremen for the past two weeks, and earned high praise from general manager Thomas Eichin, who remarked, "[he] does a few things one rarely sees."
"He is a totally goal-oriented, no-nonsense guy," said Eichin, a former hockey executive. "He reminds me of my hockey days and the boys who always sought a way forward to get in front of the goal."
The Sounders, for their part, remain hopeful they can sign Morris.
“Jordan’s over there training and they’re going to react as they react, it’s a thing we don’t control,” Lagerwey told MLSsoccer.com. “It’s part of Jordan’s process, and when he completes his process I hope he signs with the Sounders. I think we put our best foot forward, I think MLS is a great place for a young player to start his career, and I think we continue to have a great relationship with Jordan. So I’m hopeful that will work out.”
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A Seattle native, Morris played in the Sounders academy for a year and a half before matriculating to Stanford in 2013. His father, Dr. Michael Morris, has served as the Sounders team physician and orthopedic surgeon since 2009.
If he were to sign with Bremen, Morris would join fellow US teammate Aron Johannsson, who signed with the four-time Bundesliga champions over the summer but has recently been sidelined by injury. Werder are currently in a relegation battle in the Bundesliga, finding themselves 16th in the 18-team league at the halfway point of the season. They have struggled to find the net, having found the back of the net 17 times in 17 games.
