TRANSFER TRACKER:Roster update
Seattle Sounders FC, less than two weeks removed from winning their second MLS Cup, announced on Wednesday various roster decisions leading into 2020 MLS season. The club’s roster currently stands at 18 contracted players, as Sounders general manager & president of soccer Garth Lagerwey returns much of last year’s core.
“We’re excited to bring back so many players from our championship squad in an effort to make another run in 2020,” said Lagerwey in a statement. “Making these decisions at the conclusion of every year is always difficult, but we’re excited about moving forward with the group we have and seeing what we can accomplish next season.”
The Sounders exercised options on the following players for 2020: goalkeeper Bryan Meredith; midfielders Handwalla Bwana, Jordy Delem and Gustav Svensson; and forward Justin Dhillon. Meredith was selected by Inter Miami CF in yesterday’s expansion draft, leaving Seattle in need of another goalkeeper.
“Bryan was a good goalkeeper and an even better person for the Sounders,” said Lagerwey. “He was a solid partner to Stef Frei and an amazing mentor to some of our young players with Tacoma Defiance. As an immensely positive influence in both locker rooms, Bryan will be missed and we wish him well in Miami.”
The club declined the contract options of defenders Jonathan Campbell, Saad Abdul-Salaam and Roman Torres; midfielders Victor Rodriguez and Alex Roldan; and forward Luis Silva. Defenders Kim Kee-hee and Brad Smith are both out of contract, as is midfielder Harry Shipp, though conversations about a 2020 return are underway for a number of players.
Fourteen players were already under contract for next season: goalkeepers Stefan Frei and Trey Muse; defenders Xavier Arreaga, Joevin Jones, Kelvin Leerdam and Nouhou Tolo; midfielders Emanuel Cecchini, Danny Leyva, Nicolas Lodeiro and Cristian Roldan; and forwards Will Bruin, Jordan Morris, Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez and Raul Ruidiaz.
2020 Seattle Sounders Roster as of November 20, 2019:
FORWARDS (5):
- Bruin, Will
- Dhillon, Justin
- Morris, Jordan
- Ocampo-Chavez, Alfonso
- Ruidiaz, Raul
MIDFIELDERS (7):
- Bwana, Handwalla
- Cecchini, Emanuel
- Delem, Jordy
- Leyva, Danny
- Lodeiro, Nicolas
- Roldan, Cristian
- Svensson, Gustav
DEFENDERS (4):
- Arreaga, Xavier
- Joevin, Jones
- Leerdam, Kelvin
- Nouhou
GOALKEEPERS (2):
- Frei, Stefan
- Muse, Trey
