SEATTLE, WASH. - With Sounders FC 2018 preseason presented by adidas in full swing from Tucson, Arizona, the club prepares for preseason matches this weekend against the Portland Timbers (February 3) and Columbus Crew SC (February 4). With the signing of Magnus Wolff Eikrem on Tuesday, the club's roster is up to 24 players signed to the First Team, with just three weeks remaining until the first leg of the Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League round of 16 matchup with Salvadoran club Santa Tecla FC on Thursday, February 22.
Additionally, Sounders FC today announced that midfielder Nicolás Lodeiro received his U.S. Green Card, granting him permanent resident status in the United States, effective immediately. With resident stats, Lodeiro no longer occupies an international roster slot on the club’s roster.
The current roster of 24 contracted players on the First Team is composed of two goalkeepers, seven defenders, 11 midfielders and four forwards. The club currently has three Designated Players, seven International Players and four Homegrown Players.
In addition to those currently signed to First Team contracts, Brian Schmetzer's preseason roster includes players currently signed to Sounders FC 2 (the club's USL side), unsigned SuperDraft picks, Sounders FC Academy players, as well as a number of trialists and guest players.
MEDIA NOTE: On-camera player and coach interviews from Tucson can be accessed and downloaded here for editorial use. The club’s second preseason match of 2018 is slated for Saturday, February 3 against Portland at Tucson’s Kino Sports Complex. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. PT, with the contest being live-streamed via SoundersFC.com.
MEDIA RESOURCES
PLAYER BIOS: http://sndrs.com/roster
CURRENT PRESEASON ROSTER: http://sndrs.com/smqwd
VIDEO – PLAYER & COACH INTERVIEWS FROM TUCSON: http://sndrs.com/fd4kt
TRANSACTION TRACKER: http://sndrs.com/c2emf
PRESEASON HOMEPAGE: http://sndrs.com/preseason
Please note that not all players listed on the full preseason roster are present with the club in Tucson at all times due to scheduling matters, injuries or other unspecified reasons. Certain players are set to join S2 training camp, which begins next week at Starfire Sports.
CURRENT 2018 SOUNDERS FC FIRST TEAM ROSTER
GOALKEEPERS (2): Stefan Frei, Bryan Meredith
DEFENDERS (7): Tony Alfaro, Oniel Fisher, Waylon Francis, Kelvin Leerdam (INTL), Chad Marshall, Nouhou (INTL), Román Torres (INTL)
MIDFIELDERS (11): Osvaldo Alonso (DP), Handwalla Bwana (HG), Jordy Delem (INTL), Magnus Eikrem (INTL), Nicolás Lodeiro (DP), Zach Mathers, Cristian Roldan, Harry Shipp, Víctor Rodríguez (INTL), Gustav Svensson (INTL), Henry Wingo (HG)
FORWARDS (4): Seyi Adekoya (HG), Will Bruin, Clint Dempsey (DP), Jordan Morris (HG)
