Snyder Brunell will sign first-team contract with Sounders

The Seattle Sounders are set to sign midfielder Snyder Brunell to a first-team contract, Sounder at Heart has learned. The 18-year-old has been playing for the Tacoma Defiance the past three seasons, having first signed a professional contract ahead of last season after playing a season as an amateur. In that time, he’s accumulated nearly 4,000 minutes, which includes two appearances with the Sounders in the U.S. Open Cup last year.

Brunell is considered a two-way player with five goals and eight assists with the Defiance. Sounders coaches have been impressed with his work-ethic and adaptability, and he’s even served as the team captain with some regularity.

He’s also started getting United States youth national team call-ups, most recently for the U18s during the UEFA Friendship Cup. Brunell ended up playing in all four games, including a start in the final that they eventually won in a penalty shootout over France.

This would be the third player the Sounders have signed from the Defiance this year, joining Osaze De Rosario and Kalani Kossa-Rienzi. Travian Sousa was also signed from the Defiance over the offseason.

After this announcement is official, 17 players on the current roster played in Seattle's Academy or with Defiance/S2 before signing an MLS contract.