The Seattle Sounders have completed the signing of centerback Nathan Cardoso, Sounder at Heart has confirmed. Nathan, as the Brazilian is known, spent the last three seasons with the San Jose Earthquakes. Prior to that he had played in the top flights of Brazil and Switzerland.
The 28-year-old played well during his first two seasons with the Earthquakes, and was among the league leaders in both tackles and interceptions in 2022. But he suffered a ACL injury during preseason last year and missed all of 2023, and the Earthquakes declined to pick up his option that was likely due to give him a raise on his $700,000 salary. Nathan went unselected in both rounds of the Re-Entry Draft, effectively making him a free agent but also allowing the Sounders to sign him at a discounted rate.
Nathan is apparently fully healed and expected to compete for the No. 3 centerback spot. That spot is currently occupied by Xavier Arreaga, who the Sounders were likely already looking to move.
