SEATTLE — The Seattle Sounders’ signing of South Korean defender Kim Kee-hee on Tuesday may not have happened without the help of a certain familiar forward almost 6,000 miles away.
Kim and former Sounders scoring machine Obafemi Martins played together for two seasons for Shanghai Greenland Shenhua in the Chinese Super League. Kim joined in 2016 from K League 1 side Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, while Martins headed to Asia after three wildly successful seasons in Rave Green. Martins tallied 40 goals from 2013-15, good for third in club history, and helped Seattle capture the 2014 MLS Supporters’ Shield.
When Kim was exploring his options after finishing a frustrating 2017, Martins put in plenty of good words about the city of Seattle and the organization. Martins talked about the giant crowds and amazing atmosphere at CenturyLink Field and enticed Kim to join the Sounders.
“[Martins] talked about a lot of fans in Seattle,” said Kim on Wednesday through a translator. “That’s what made me want to come here.”
A center back by trade, Kim is also capable of playing fullback and in central midfield. An imposing presence in the middle of the park at 6-foot-2, he excels in the air as well as splitting lines passing out of the back.
Kim chose Major League Soccer because he wants to challenge a new market after spending his entire career to date in Asia, plying his trade in China, Qatar and his native South Korea. He is intrigued by the growth potential in MLS and wants to be a part of it.
Kim got his first taste of life in MLS on Wednesday when he trained on the CenturyLink Field turf ahead of the Sounders’ Leg Two match against El Salvador’s Santa Tecla FC in the Round of 16 in CONCACAF Champion League. Just being out on the field, Kim could feel how intense the environment would be and couldn’t wait for the match to start.
“There were a lot of fans in China,” Kim said, “but after I saw this stadium, I want to play here right now.”
