SEATTLE, WASH. – Seattle Sounders FC 2 today announced that it has signed midfielder Josh Atencio to a professional contract. The signing is pending USL and U.S. Soccer Federation approval. The 16-year-old Sounders FC Academy product scored one goal in two appearances for S2 in 2018, including one start. Atencio was part of the Sounders FC Academy U-17 squad that won the 2017-2018 USSDA National Championship in July. The signing brings S2’s roster to 16 players for 2019.
“Josh is another talented product of our Academy,” said Sounders FC Director of Player Development Marc Nicholls. “ He leads by example and is an extremely popular character amongst his peers. Josh made a great impression in limited action for S2 last season, and we’re excited to see what he can do over the course of a full season.”
Atencio made his professional debut on August 19 at Portland Timbers 2 and scored the team’s lone goal. He made his first career start less than a week later at OKC Energy FC. The Bellevue, Washington native scored two goals in 26 games across all competitions last season in USSDA and USL play.
S2 kicks off its 2019 campaign with a home match on March 8 at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma, beginning the club’s second season playing its home games in the South Sound. S2 is set to host Rio Grande Valley FC in the home opener at 7:00 p.m. PT.
Transaction: Sounders FC 2 signs midfielder Josh Atencio on January 22, 2019.
Name: Josh Atencio
Position: Midfielder
Height: 6-1
Weight: 174
Born: January 31, 2002 in Bellevue, Washington
Hometown: Bellevue, Washington
Citizenship: United States
S2’s current roster is listed below by positional breakdown. Thirteen of the 16 players are currently 19 years of age or younger, while the other three are 21 years old. Seven players on the current S2 roster were part of the Sounders FC Academy U-17 squad that won the 2017-2018 USSDA National Championship.
CURRENT SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC 2 ROSTER
Defenders (4): Nick Hinds, Modou Ndow, Sam Rogers, Denso Ulysse
Midfielders (6): Antonee Burke-Gilroy, Jesse Daley, Danny Leyva, Ben Numbi, Danny Robles, Marlon Vargas
Forwards (6): Josh Atencio, Alec Diaz, Azriel Gonzalez, Shandon Hopeau, Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez, Ray Serrano
