Spencer Richey officially joins hometown Sounders

Another local product is coming home, this time goalkeeper Spencer Richey. The 28-year-old Seattle native’s signing was announced on Tuesday. The team also announced that 21-year-old goalkeeper Trey Muse would be loaned to the USL’s San Diego Loyal.

Richey grew up in Seattle, spent part of his academy career at Crossfire and then played five years at the University of Washington before being drafted by the Vancouver Whitecaps in 2015. Richey got his big break when he joined FC Cincinnati on loan in 2018, helping them win a USL title. He then made the move with them to MLS, where he made 29 starts over two seasons.

“We’re pleased to add a good local product like Spencer to the club and have him get to work with Tom Dutra and the rest of our goalkeeper unit,” Sounders FC General Manager & President of Soccer Garth Lagerwey said in a statement.

Although Richey didn’t have any formal ties to the Sounders, he does have a history with club Director of Goalkeeping Tommy Dutra. Richey trained with Dutra while he was at Tacoma’s Pacific Lutheran University and then with both the USL and and MLS Sounders.

Richey’s signing coincides with the Sounders loaning Muse. Richey will likely compete with Stefan Cleveland to be Stefan Frei’s primary backup and the Sounders felt that Muse would be better served on a more veteran USL team like the Loyal. Although the Sounders still like Muse’s upside, Christian Herrera was seen as someone a bit more equipped to help the Tacoma Defiance’s young backline.

“Loaning Trey to San Diego gives him a good opportunity for some meaningful minutes, and we look forward to seeing how he performs this season,” Lagerwey said.

CURRENT SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC ROSTER

GOALKEEPERS (3): Stefan Cleveland, Stefan Frei, Spencer Richey

DEFENDERS (7): Yeimar Gómez Andrade, Xavier Arreaga, Jimmy Medranda, Nouhou, Shane O’Neill, Alex Roldan, Brad Smith

MIDFIELDERS (9): Josh Atencio, Jordy Delem, Ethan Dobbelaere, Shandon Hopeau, João Paulo, Danny Leyva, Nicolás Lodeiro, Cristian Roldan, Kelyn Rowe

FORWARDS (3): Will Bruin, Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez, Raúl Ruidíaz

PLAYERS ON LOAN (2): Jordan Morris (Swansea City), Trey Muse (San Diego Loyal SC)