Kelyn Rowe is right where he belongs.
The Seattle Sounders on Tuesday announced that Rowe, who joined the ahead of the 2021 MLS campaign, has re-signed with his hometown club.
A versatile veteran capable of playing anywhere in midfield or as an outside back, Rowe was initially brought in to bolster the squad’s depth and provide competition at numerous spots. The Federal Way native went on to be the only Sounders player that featured in all 34 regular season matches, posting 24 starts, one goal, three assists and 29 key passes.
“Kelyn Rowe was absolutely dynamite for us last year,” General Manager & President of Soccer Garth Lagerwey told SoundersFC.com. “It was a testament to him coming in. He literally had the best year of his career arguably. It was really fun.”
When Rowe first joined the Rave Green, he made one thing very clear: he wasn’t coming home to retire. He wanted to have a career here, help the Sounders compete for trophies, and play in front of friends and family.
In fact, Rowe wanted to play for Seattle so much that he called up the front office ahead of the 2021 season and made a sales pitch on what he could offer.
“He was really excited to join us last year,” recalled Lagerwey. “We had a phone call around Christmas last year, and he actually called us and talked us into signing him. It was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made.”
Rowe was an integral part of a Sounders side that enjoyed plenty of success last season, including a league record 13-match unbeaten run to start the season, finishing with 60 points for the second time in club history, and run to the Leagues Cup final. The UCLA alum brings a veteran presence in the locker room and reliable performances across the pitch as the Sounders compete for four trophies in 2022.
“We expect more good things to come from Kelyn,” said Lagerwey. “He’s a consummate pro and we’d love it if he’s able to maintain the level he had last season.”
You can see the full Seattle Sounders schedule for the 2022 season HERE.
