The Seattle Sounders have been known to play the long game when it comes to signing players they like. Sounders Technical Director Chris Henderson first saw Thomas Jaguaribe Bedinelli play about three years ago when he was with Brazilian giants Flamengo.
The persistence paid off, as the Sounders officially announced Thomas' signing on Monday. Thomas has been training with the Sounders for several weeks and had actually been signed prior to the transfer window closing. But the move was made official on Monday when all his paperwork came through. The 22-year-old will be eligible to play immediately.
"It's rewarding to finally be able to welcome him to Sounders FC," said Seattle Technical Director Chris Henderson. "His technical and attacking abilities are impressive, and he'll mesh well with our current roster as we move into the second half of the 2015 season."
Thomas comes to the Sounders with four years of professional experience, mostly in Brazil but also having spent half a season on loan to Italian Serie B side Siena in 2013-14. The attacking midfielder has about 2,300 first-team minutes, but just one goal to show for his time.
Here's how Sounders GM Garth Lagerwey described Thomas' game: "He is a dynamic attacking player that has a diverse array of experience despite being only 22 years old, and we look forward to his contributions to our club."