Player Details

Name

Obed Vargas

Height

5' 9"

Weight

150 lbs

Date of Birth

8.5.2005 (19)

Birthplace

Anchorage, AK, USA

Position

Midfielder

Roster Category

Supplemental Slots 25-28

Player Category

Homegrown
Career Summary

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2024 (Seattle): Vargas continued to be one of MLS’ top young players in 2024, earning the seventh spot in the annual 22 Under 22 list. He appeared in 40 matches (37 starts) in all competitions for Seattle, tallying two goals and seven assists, including his first career goal against the Philadelphia Union (April 30). After utilizing his one-time federation switch from the United States to Mexico, the midfielder made his senior national team debut for Mexico against the United States (October 16), playing seven minutes. Vargas was also called up to the U-20 and U-23 Mexico National Teams.

2023 (Seattle): Vargas appeared in 27 matches (16 starts) for Seattle in 2023. He tallied his first career assist with the Rave Green in a road match against Portland on April 15 and added another in a road match against FC Dallas on September 16. The midfielder also played against San Diego Loyal SC in Seattle’s 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup campaign and in both of the club’s Leagues Cup matches. On the international stage, Vargas made five appearances for the United States in the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup and four appearances in friendly matches at the U-20 and U-23 levels.

2022 (Seattle): Vargas signed a First Team contract prior to the start of the season. Prior to a lower back stress fracture that ended his season in May, Vargas started 10 of 13 regular season appearances for Sounders FC. He also started three of seven appearances during the Rave Green’s title-winning Concacaf Champions League run, including a 61-minute substitute appearance in the second leg of the Final against Pumas UNAM (May 4) after João Paulo suffered a torn ACL.

2021 (Tacoma Defiance): After signing a USL contract with Tacoma on May 7, 2021, Vargas tallied one assist and 31 tackles won in 28 appearances for Defiance this season. The Alaskan also started and played 77 minutes in Seattle’s victory over Austin FC last summer via Extreme Hardship, becoming the third-youngest player in league history to play in a MLS match (15 years and 351 days).

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE

N/A

YOUTH EXPERIENCE

Vargas joined the Academy at age 14 from Cook Inlet Soccer Club in his home state of Alaska and has also represented the USYNT at the U-15 level.