The Seattle Sounders have signed midfielder Sota Kitahara from the Tacoma Defiance as the membership’s twentieth Homegrown Player in historical past. He joins on a two-year cope with membership choices in 2025 and 2026.
“It’s always nice to bring young players up to the first team who have earned their way through our system,” stated head coach Brian Schmetzer. “I’m excited to see how Sota contributes to the squad when we begin preseason camp.”
Kitahara first joined the Sounders Discovery Program in 2014 earlier than transferring to the Academy, the place he made 14 appearances in his first yr on the U-16 stage. He signed for Tacoma Defiance in December 2020, recording one aim in 28 appearances earlier than seeing a mortgage spell with FC Pinzgau Saalfelden in Austria’s third division.
“We are excited to have Sota sign with the First Team,” stated Senior Vice President of Soccer Operations & Sporting Director Craig Waibel. “Since joining the Sounders Discovery Program in 2014, he has shown continued improvement every year at all levels of our development pathway. I believe he will be an excellent addition to an already talented midfield.”
Kitahara stands as the eighth Homegrown Player on the present Sounders roster. This is the primary reinforcement of the offseason for the Sounders.
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