Stefan Frei will be back with the Seattle Sounders, likely for another two years. The Athletic’s Tom Bogert was the first to report the signing, while Sounder at Heart has learned that the agreement is likely guaranteed through 2027. Frei had been a free agent.
Frei, who will turn 40 in April, has already spent 12 seasons with the Sounders and now owns virtually all of the club’s career goalkeeping records. He is also second to Nick Rimando in many of the MLS career records, including games starts (433), minutes (38,710), wins (184) and shutouts (124). He’s also just outside the all-time Top 10 with a 71.38 career save percentage.
While nothing has been announced, the expectation is that Frei will be the backup goalkeeper next year. Andrew Thomas has now served that role admirably the last two seasons and even led the Sounders to the Leagues Cup title, winning Best Goalkeeper in the process. He went 11-3-3 with five shutouts across all competitions.
