Sounders add another Homegrown Player

After months of hints and speculation, Darwin Jones has become a full-time member of the Seattle Sounders community. The ink is on the paper, and Jones is now the fifth homegrown player in Sounders FC history.

"He's an exciting player that we know well from our Academy ranks and have been monitoring during his career at the University of Washington," said Sounders FC Head Coach Sigi Schmid. "Our Academy staff has done a tremendous job of developing players like Darwin, and we're excited to add another quality Homegrown Player to our roster."

Jones primarily played as a forward for the University of Washington Huskies, but did spend some time as a winger during one of his two college seasons. That time out wide reportedly improved his passing significantly, helping lead Washington into the NCAA tournament both years. His eight goals this season led the team and went along with five assists. Previous to his university career, Jones played with the Sounders U-23s and at Highline CC.

"I'm humbled and excited to join Sounders FC and look forward to proving myself as an impact player for the club," said Jones. "I'm looking forward to being in a competitive environment alongside a group of quality players that I can learn from inside a first-class organization."

This has been expected since early December, when Jones began openly talking about his expectation to sign with the Sounders.

His signing comes just as DeAndre Yedlin, Seattle's first homegrown player, begins to integrate into the roster of Tottenham Hotspur in the EPL. Seattle's homegrown history also includes Sean Okoli, Aaron Kovar, and Victor Mansaray (signed in November.)