#10 Pedro de la Vega – 2025 Overall Rating: 6.06 in 37 appearances
Community Rating: 6.26
MLS Regular Season: 5.77 in 26 appearances
Concacaf Champions Cup 7.67 in 3 appearances
Club World Cup 5.50 in 2 appearances
Leagues Cup: 6.67 in 6 appearances
MOTM = 3 | High = 9 | Low = 5
After arriving on the team in 2024, Pedro de la Vega was a disappointment. He needed to turn it around in 2025 to show that his club-record signing wasn’t a bust, and that meant consistent, strong play and staying healthy. From 23 appearances last season, he increased to 37 in 2025. Suddenly getting more consistent time, Pedro exploded with the dynamic creativity and technical ability we expected upon his arrival. He consistently made little magical plays that helped spur a resurgent Seattle offense. When he found his spot in the Seattle tactical setup, the entire offense went to previously unreached heights, and it was a joy to watch him grow throughout the year.
How it started: Playing on the right side, Pedro started out strong, with multiple 8 ratings in CCC. Unfortunately, he got hurt, and after missing four matches, he returned with average results. The team brought him back cautiously from his absence, slowly ramping up his time. It wasn’t until the coaching staff finally tried something new that Pedro took off. The change? Starting him on the left, where he was immediately impactful. He dominated against San Jose on the left, and earned MOTM:
Constantly dangerous, he was everywhere for Seattle. Whether it was finding an underlapping RBW in the 23rd minute, breaking Mark-Anthony Kaye’s ankles in the 31st or chesting down to Albert Rusnák for a near-post shot right before half, Pedro was hot in the first half. In the second he went supernova, first getting in behind and finding the open runner with a nifty assist to a galloping Moose. He broke out five minutes later and nearly scored, before actually scoring an audacious game-winner by cutting in to his right and blistering a shot into the far side netting.
This was the first of back-to-back MOTM awards in MLS play and was a precursor to Seattle’s first match of Leagues Cup in which Pedro scored the best goal in the history of the team, a goal that was nominated for the world Puskás Award.
How it ended: Pedro de la Vega was on a roll, improving every match, dynamic and almost unstoppable at creating for others and scoring directly. Living up to the hype, he was the best Argentine on the field in the Leagues Cup final. In the 10 matches starting with the Leagues Cup opener, Pedro averaged 6.6 and was great at unlocking teams and supporting the offense. Over that stretch, Seattle went 7W-1L-2T and outscored opponents 22-3 with seven shutouts. Much of that free flowing play came from Pedro’s movement and combination. Unfortunately, in the final match of the regular season at NYCFC, disaster struck. He took an awkward step on their poor field, and his season was over. A freak kneecap fracture meant he would be out until April 2026. This was a disappointing end to the year, but hopefully doesn’t mean he has a propensity for injury. When PDLV was on the field, Seattle’s offense looked as good as it ever has.
Where do we go from here? Pedro in the Sounders’ free-flowing combination play was borderline unstoppable. We hope when he returns in 2026, he’ll jump right back into that role again. After settling in on the left side, his inverted creative play was some of the most dynamic soccer in the league. PDLV was everything expected of him when he transferred in, and he started to show that potential in game-breaking play. It’s a darn shame that he wasn’t around in the playoffs, as his skillset seems tailor made for breaking down Minnesota’s type of defensive shape. It’s important to remember that he is only 24, and when fully rehabbed, should be a dominant force in this league for quite some time.
#9 Nouhou – 2025 Overall Rating: 6.12 in 40 appearances
Community Rating: 6.02
MLS Regular Season: 6.11 in 27 appearances
MLS Playoffs: 6.00 in 3 appearances
Concacaf Champions Cup 6.00 in 4 appearances
Club World Cup 6.00 in 2 appearances
Leagues Cup: 6.50 in 4 appearances
MOTM = 5 | High = 9 | Low = 3
One of the most polarizing players on the team had plenty of drama in 2025, and his ratings ranged from a low of 3 to a high of 9. Able to earn a MOTM at twice the rate of previous seasons, Nouhou’s performances could also be plagued by poor decision making. One major issue this season was the Sounders’ red card plague, as they accumulated send-offs at an alarming rate. Nouhou’s two red cards were two too many, and they’re in contrast to five total yellows all season. At the same time, he was able to demonstrate absolute defensive clinics, where he shut down his side of the field so completely that opposing stars routinely gave up and focused elsewhere.
How it started: Coming into 2025, Nouhou was a locked-in starter on a solid defense that returned basically everyone. They were expected to continue this form, but early in the season the defense showed uncharacteristic struggles. Random own goals and discipline issues plagued the team that had not been prone to these issues before. Through it all, the enigmatic Nouhou added his own blunders. A ridiculous own goal seven minutes into an early road game against Real Salt Lake was the kind of error that Seattle’s defense continually committed, seemingly out of nowhere. This mental weakness was confusing for a team always known for fortitude.
How it ended: After the team cruised to an early lead, Nouhou subbed himself off against Sporting Kansas City in July. Seattle held on, but nearly surrendered a three-goal lead. I had this to say:
Who are we kidding? Nouhou can’t keep it together, he’s a clear detriment to the team, and lately he isn’t doing enough good stuff to offset his incredibly poor decision making.
From the low of that 3 rating, he climbed out of the doghouse and started against Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup. He was excellent, shutting down the Mexican side’s best opportunity early before scoring a goal of his own as Seattle romped. Seattle finally beat Portland at home as the Cameroonian left back earned MOTM for his stellar defense in a peak rivalry match. Nouhou ended the year subdued and part of a defense that struggled to find their rhythm. One of the issues was set piece defending, something that came back to haunt the team in the playoffs. Nouhou was part of that struggle, often mismarking or failing to shut down opportunities on dead balls. Perhaps the biggest improvement in his game was better decision making and service on offense. With two goals, two assists, and more successful ball advancement, Nouhou’s transition offense was better.
Where do we go from here? Nouhou had his highest number of appearances, earned his most MOTM awards, and impacted the scoreboard. If he hadn’t had those multiple low ratings from awful decisions and the penalties associated with them, he would probably have had his best year as a Sounder. And that’s the dichotomy of Nouhou: he has the skills and ability to shine in this league and still mostly does so. Unfortunately, 2025 was lowlighted by multiple errors and red cards that make the question “is he worth it?” hard to answer. Until someone else on the team steps up and takes the opportunity for minutes at Nouhou’s expense, he remains a strong yet flawed option going into 2026. If he can eliminate the mental mistakes and emotional impulses, he can be a star left back in MLS. If he can’t, Seattle needs to find a better option.
#8 Alex Roldan – 2025 Overall Rating: 6.13 in 45 appearances
Community Rating: 6.22
MLS Regular Season: 6.03 in 29 appearances
MLS Playoffs: 5.67 in 3 appearances
Concacaf Champions Cup 6.50 in 4 appearances
Club World Cup 5.67 in 3 appearances
Leagues Cup: 6.83 in 6 appearances
MOTM = 3 | High = 9 | Low = 5
Alex Roldan somehow reinvented himself again: 2025 was his highest rated season ever. He’s always been a key contributor, but he turned up his impact this year, showing incredible consistency and the kind of positional flexibility that helped Seattle remain competitive over his massive 45 appearances.
How it started: The incumbent right back entering the season, Alex showed his veteran skills and consistency, starting nearly every match. When Seattle played eventual tourney winner Cruz Azul in the CCC, it was Alex Roldan who stood out as MOTM.
Alex played all over the field in this match, and at times looked to be the Sounder most in control of a result. Filling up the stat book with a combination of connection play (88 percent passing) offense (two key passes, two successful dribbles) and defense (11 defensive actions), Roldan was frequently the most aggressive player on the field. This combination was fun to watch, as Alex went from a beautiful backside run and near-score in the 73rd minute to popping up with an essential central midfield defensive overload five minutes later, giving vital help just when it looked like Cruz Azul might have success in a gap that Alex immediately closed down.
His intensity, tactical movement, and ability to fill in on both sides of the ball were integral to Seattle’s success. With injuries around him, Roldan played wingback, center back, and defensive midfield at various times. Especially intriguing was his time filling in at center back, where he barely put a foot wrong and displayed good decision making and distribution.
How it ended: It ended much as it started, with Roldan playing well. When Seattle needed a clutch penalty kick or under-the-radar defensive play, it was Alex who calmly made it happen. His MOTM performance against the LA Galaxy meant five key passes and two shots, while also helping pitch a shutout. He made the game-deciding penalty in the Leagues Cup final, with Alex strolling to the spot and sealing the win. Throughout the year he showed up as one of the most confident players in big matches, leading by example and showing well, in CCC and Leagues Cup especially.
Where do we go from here? A positive result from 2025 was developing other players at right back, allowing some tactical rotation, and investigating other positional roles for Alex. Hopefully the Alex Roldan center back discussion isn’t completely scrapped, because he looked great there. He may be undersized and struggle in the air, but his passing and defensive positioning were worth continued looks. Even remaining at right defense, he’s one of the most solid players in the league, defending well while understanding the tactical moments to surge forward. When the opportunity presents, he is apt to drop a Puskás Award-winning assist, and his distribution from wide areas is continually impressive. Seattle and Alex should expect many solid seasons to come.
#7 Obed Vargas – 2025 Overall Rating: 6.17 in 41 appearances
Community Rating: 6.33
MLS Regular Season: 6.00 in 26 appearances
MLS Playoffs: 6.00 in 3 appearances
Concacaf Champions Cup 6.00 in 3 appearances
Club World Cup 6.33 in 3 appearances
Leagues Cup: 7.00 in 6 appearances
MOTM = 1 | High = 8 | Low = 4
There’s been a lot of hype around Obed Vargas since before he signed an MLS first team contract, and 2025 was a massive test for his growth. Coming into the year, he was high on the depth chart but not a penciled-in starter every match, instead vying for time with other young talents and some veterans. With the fixture congestion expected this year, Vargas could expect a lot of appearances, but he outshot even the most aggressive predictions. He featured in 41 matches and was a locked-in starter when healthy. That meant little rest, a heavy workload, and plenty of time to show his impressive skills.
How it started: After Josh Atencio was traded and other teammates turned up injured, Obed was given the defacto starting job next to Cristian Roldan, and he never let it go. These two were fantastic as a pairing, complementing each others’ games, and Seattle rode this combination in numerous matches. Vargas was a consistent facilitator who covered large amounts of real estate and combined with those around him. At times he was reluctant to show his offensive skills, but when he did he looked exciting around the goal. One such game showcasing his attacking chops came in a demolition of St. Louis SC in May, with Obed leading the offense:
Allowed to use his incredible touch and vision as an extra attacker, Obed recognized the gaps in St. Louis’ defensive structure and drove into them via dribble or pass connections. He had a goalbound shot deflected in, another literally held out by a defender, and a third stopped via the post. In each instance these big chances were created by movement and vision in the box.
That ability to overload the box and do smart things with the ball looked dominant when he used it, which made you wonder why he avoided this attacking space for much of the rest of the season. In the mid-summer months, Obed hit a lull, not having much impact. In a bad loss to Vancouver, Vargas’ rough patch was on full display:
I’m not sure what Obed brings to the team right now. Defensively, he leaves gaps that force Cristian into herculean efforts in the middle. Offensively, he refuses to turn to goal and only passes the way he’s facing, which is almost always looking at Stefan Frei. When he recovers defensively, he jogs behind the play to the penalty spot and stands there.
This was the issue with Obed prior to 2025; he didn’t impact games and was more of a passenger as the entire team struggled to figure out successful tactics and identity.
How it ended: After showing surprisingly well in the Club World Cup, Obed and crew went on a run in the Leagues Cup and took that trophy. Against the best in the world, Obed not only looked solid, he looked like he belonged. This turning point for the team coincided with the resurgence of Vargas centrally. Again, the engine of the Sounders was the defensive midfield combination of Obed and Cristian. These two played nearly every match together, and their communication and fitness meant Seattle wasn’t going to be outworked in the midfield. When Vargas entered the attack, he was too much for opponents, having vision, touch and movement that few could match. Minnesota found out the hard way in the second leg of the playoffs, watching hopelessly as Vargas scored two and had a third denied by the post. His movement and surging runs were a huge reason why Seattle thoroughly dominated in this match.
Where do we go from here? Vargas proved that youth development is not linear, as there were ups and downs during the year. The entire season trended upward, though, and Obed went from solid rookie to bonafide MLS commodity. With his age and ability to drop MVP-level matches, it’s no surprise that Seattle would see what he could obtain on the market in the winter. Still only 20, there is no real ceiling for him any time soon, and he keeps raising the floor. If Vargas does return to the Sounders, they have a quality central pairing that can provide results every game. If he gets an offer too good to refuse, then we’ll follow his career with another team. It would be a shame if he were to leave on his own accord, without the Sounders reaping the windfall for his development, but Obed bet on himself and is in a position to choose his own course going forward.
