A testament to the academy, the Seattle Sounders’ midfield picture in 2025 was remarkable by MLS standards: three youth talents, all raised in the club’s system, all technically gifted, and all capable of operating in similar central areas alongside Cristian Roldan. Danny Leyva has now departed, Obed Vargas has become a key starter and one of the league’s brightest young midfielders, and Snyder Brunell has emerged as a name for the future well worth discussing. Together, the three form a living snapshot of Seattle’s past, present, and potential future in midfield.
When you compare their heatmaps across passes, receptions, carries, shots, and defensive actions, you see how each of them fits into Seattle’s structure in a similar manner. All three midfielders generate their highest-value actions in roughly the same central areas. Obed, Leyva, and Brunell have demonstrated the potential to form a natural pairing with Roldan and reinforce the structure that has defined Seattle's midfield identify.
Danny Levya: Most Valuable PV+ Action Locations (2025)
Obed Vargas: Most Valuable PV+ Action Locations (2025)
Snyder Brunell: Most Valuable PV+ Action Locations (2025)
What Is Possession Value Added (PV+)?
PV+ is a machine learning based model that measures how much every action—pass, carry, reception, or defensive win—increases or decreases the likelihood that a possession will lead to a goal.
Their clustered passing profiles highlight these distinctions more sharply. Leyva plays a high share of vertical passes, with many of his most valuable actions driving directly into the final third or threading through defenders. Obed, meanwhile, is more balanced, still capable of breaking lines, but more deliberately focused on controlling rhythm and maintaining possession. Leyva clearly leans toward a vertically oriented style, while Obed’s passing threads the needle between attacking threat and ball retention. Brunell mirrors aspects of both styles, though his small sample means we're only seeing the early outlines of his game.
