Kelvin Leerdam has chosen a number, and it will be the number his father once wore, according to a Seattle Sounders spokesperson.
The Sounders’ newest signing will wear the No. 18 shirt, a number most notably worn by Kasey Keller from 2009-2011. The number went unused in 2012-2013, but then was claimed by Djimi Traore in 2014 after he agreed to give Chad Barrett his No. 19 shirt. In 2015 Thomas Jaguaribe wore and last year it went to Nathan Sturgis.
Leerdam had previously worn Nos. 5 and 7 with Vitesse and Feynoord, respectively. Those numbers were already taken by Nouhou and Cristian Roldan, but Leerdam was apparently happy to switch things up as he’d never had the opportunity to wear 18 previously.
Leerdam will be eligible to actually wear that shirt no earlier than July 19 when the Sounders return from the Gold Cup break with a home match against D.C. United.