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The Seattle Sounders are poised to have one of the top goalkeeping tandems in MLS, once again. With Stefan Frei presumably entrenched as the team's starter after a strong finish in 2014, Troy Perkins was signed on Tuesday.
Perkins was effectively a free agent after his latest contract expired and he passed through the Re-Entry Draft without being selected. Even if he doesn't see much MLS time, there should be plenty of minutes for him in U.S. Open Cup and CONCACAF Champions League play.
"Troy is an accomplished player that is well-known throughout our league," Sounders head coach Sigi Schmid said in a team release. "He has been one of the most consistent performers at the goalkeeper position during his MLS career, and he brings experience to our roster. We look forward to welcoming him in Seattle shortly."
Perkins, 33, has been primarily a starter during his 10-year MLS career, but had fallen out of favor with the Montreal Impact. Perkins struggled at times last year, posting a 4-12-5 record, was stuck with a 1.67 goals against average and stopped just 65 percent of the shots he faced, while playing for one of the worst team's in the league. A year earlier, he was much better, going 14-12-7, with a 1.45 GAA and registering eight shutouts. Perkins was once considered one of the top goalkeeping prospects in MLS, winning Goalkeeper of the Year honors in 2006 after recording a 15-6-9 record and 1.13 GAA with D.C. United as a 25-year-old.
Perkins also spent parts of two seasons with the Portland Timbers, going 1-1-1 in three starts against the Sounders, starting 51 matches and establishing himself as a fan favorite.
"It's a huge honor to be asked to join a club with the kind of prestige and class that Sounders FC represents," Perkins said. "As an opponent, playing in Seattle was always a special thing and it will be a lot of fun being on the other side of it. The fan base there is really top-notch and atop the league."
Finding a backup goalkeeper after the Marcus Hahnemann's retirement and Josh Ford's departure was one of the Sounders' top offseason priorities. Still on the list, though, is finding another potential starter at center back as well as wide midfielder.