The Seattle Sounders will start the offseason with 22 players under contract for the 2026 season after they announced roster decisions on Tuesday.
Most of those decisions went about as expected — with the possibly notable exception that Kim Kee-hee’s option was exercised as opposed to the two sides agreeing on a new deal — but still included some tough ones. The Sounders declined the options on centerback Leo Burney, goalkeeper Jacob Castro, winger Ryan Kent and left back Travian Sousa. Additionally, Jonathan Bell, Stefan Frei, João Paulo and Paul Rothrock are all out of contract and eligible to enter free agency.
Jeremiah Oshan
The Sounders are still in active discussions with Frei, but the other out-of-contract players are likely to test free agency, a team source indicated. Previous reports indicated that the Sounders have been in discussions with Rothrock as well, but that they remain a ways apart. The club has also been trying to get Vargas signed to an extension to no avail.
The Sounders did exercise their options on Yeimar Gomez Andrade, Osaze De Rosario, Kim, Kalani Kossa-Rienzi, Danny Musovski, Nouhou and Obed Vargas. There are 15 other players who were already under contract. Those 22 players give the Sounders solid starters and backups at virtually every position with the exception of goalkeeper, where Andrew Thomas is currently the only player under contract. Thomas, who is the presumed starter, signed an extension last year that keeps him under club control through the 2029 season.
Jeremiah Oshan
While exact figures aren’t available, Sounder at Heart estimates the Sounders should have about $1.6 million in salary cap space to spend this offseason. They also have four open senior roster spots, five open supplemental spots and five open international roster spots.
CURRENT SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC ROSTER
GOALKEEPERS (1): Andrew Thomas
DEFENDERS (8): Yeimar Gómez Andrade, Cody Baker, Stuart Hawkins, Kim Kee-hee, Kalani Kossa-Rienzi, Nouhou, Jackson Ragen, Alex Roldan
MIDFIELDERS (9): Paul Arriola, Reed Baker-Whiting, Snyder Brunell, Pedro de la Vega, Danny Leyva, Georgi Minoungou, Cristian Roldan, Albert Rusnák, Obed Vargas
FORWARDS (4): Osaze De Rosario, Jesús Ferreira, Jordan Morris, Danny Musovski
