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Brad Evans won't be going anywhere anytime soon. The Seattle Sounders locked up their midfielder with a multi-year contract extension on Wednesday, likely ending any speculation that he might try his hand in Europe.
"Re-signing Brad was a major priority for us," Sounders part-owner and General Manager Adrian Hanauer said in a team release. "He has become a leader in the locker room and is a versatile player on the field. Brad exhibits the commitment, values and spirit of playing for the Sounders FC badge."
Evans is coming off another solid season in which he scored four goals and tied a career high with five assists while once again playing all over the park. Evans started matches at left, right and center midfielder and occasionally filled in as a right back and center back. Almost as importantly, he also managed to avoid any serious injuries for a second consecutive season.
Over the past three seasons, Evans has now scored 14 goals and registered 15 assists
"My goal was to stay in Seattle and I'm very excited to continue my career here," said Evans. "It's always an honor to play for this city and these fans. I can't wait to get back to work with my teammates to prepare for the 2014 season."
While Evans' production has obviously been appreciated, it was his versatility that made him a mainstay on the United States national team and made him a virtual lock for the 2014 World Cup. Evans has managed to grab the starting right back job despite only rarely playing the position for the Sounders.
All of this has made Evans a natural candidate to serve as one of the team's leaders, something Hanauer hinted at strongly during his postseason teleconference. Evans has always been affable and willing to speak to the media even during down times, but it seems as though the Sounders are hoping that he'll take an even bigger locker room presence moving forward.