DeAndre Yedlin was the first Sounders homegrown player signing. Now it looks like there may be a second on the way.
This time it could be an attacking player, Wake Forest forward Sean Okoli, fresh off a junior season in which he scored 5 goals in 13 matches and earned First Team All-South Region honors. A bit of Twitter evidence to give weight to this rumor: A mention of “pen to paper” by Okoli himself, which isn’t too difficult to interpret.
A bit of Twitter evidence to give weight to this rumor: A mention of “pen to paper” by Okoli himself, which isn’t too difficult to interpret.
two more days and it's pen to paper?? – @AskAboutUgo
More evidence: A request from another Sounders academy forward, Dom Dismuke, which, again, could be easily interpreted.
If you Sounders fans haven't already done it, go follow my boy @AskAboutUgo he's gettin ready to do big things this year. #NextUp – @DomDismuke
“Sounders fans” + “next up” = homegrown player signing, no?
Is this a huge move? Eh, probably not. The impact of DeAndre Yedlin is the exception to the rule when it comes to young players, especially during the tenure of Sigi Schmid. Best case scenario, though, the potential signing of Okoli skews more toward Yedlin and less toward Eriq Zavaleta along the spectrum of playing time.
There have been rumblings of the Okoli signing for a while, and coupled with the possible (though far from certain) return of midfielder Mario Martinez, the Sounders’ offseason picture continues to get clearer – though there’s no doubt more in store.
The team currently holds both the No. 2 spot in the allocation order, and an unknown but likely substantial amount of allocation dollars acquired in the Eddie Johnson trade with DC United and other moves.
(image courtesy of soundersfc.com)
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