Lamar Neagle has come home … again.
The Federal Way, Wash., native rejoined the Seattle Sounders for his fourth stint on Monday, a fact he joked about after his first training session on Wednesday. He previously played for the Sounders in 2009, 2011 and 2013-15 and is the club’s fourth all-time leading goalscorer.
Neagle spent the 2016 season and the first half of this season with D.C. United before the Sounders traded a 2018 fourth round MLS SuperDraft pick for his rights.
“They were trying to sign somebody and have cap space so they were making a lot of moves,” Neagle said of D.C. United. “I think [the trade] works for everybody. I can come in, and whether I make an impact on the field, I definitely will on the practice field. I’m familiar with the organization, the players, the coaches. It just made sense for everybody.”
Neagle and Head Coach Brian Schmetzer have a long history. While on break from UNLV in the mid-2000s, Neagle used to train with Schmetzer’s USL Sounders and signed his first MLS contract with Seattle in 2009. Schmetzer acknowledged that Neagle still needs to compete for minutes, but his veteran leadership and presence will be a valuable asset in the season’s final stretch.
“We have a really talented squad, but he’s a really talented player,” said Schmetzer. “He’s a hard worker, smart worker, goal-dangerous, fast, he’s got good strength. He’s a good MLS player.”
Neagle is the third and final player the Sounders acquired in MLS’ Secondary Transfer Window after signing Dutch fullback Kelvin Leerdam and Spanish midfielder Victor Rodriguez. General Manager & President of Soccer Garth Lagerwey told media on Wednesday that despite the club shopping for a potential Designated Player signing, he is confident, as are Schmetzer and the rest of the current roster, that the Sounders can defend their title.
“I want to win another [MLS Cup for the Sounders],” Neagle said. “If I can help out in any way, I’m more than happy to. This team did it last year and they’re only getting better.”
Added Schmetzer: “We’re going to try and make [Neagle’s trade] an even better story and have him come home and win a championship.”
