Fitting that the Seattle Sounders FC unveiled the signing of the team’s newest Designated Player in the confines of their new home at Longacre’s. While the club will embark on a year-long celebration acknowledging its 50 years of existence the signing of Argentine Pedro de la Vega is a commitment to the present and the future.
GOALS CHANGE GAMES
Former Sounders coach Sigi Schmidt is famous for his goals change games mantra. Goals are something the Sounders did not have enough of last year. The team scored 41 goals which left them in the bottom third of the league. Another way to look at it is that 18 teams scored more goals than the Rave Green last year. The team’s 32 goals left them in a tie for the best defense with Nashville who allowed the same number of goals.
NEED FOR CHANGE
The need for a dynamic playmaker was evident in the number of goals the team scored and how they scored them. The Sounder’s attack was predictable making it easy for teams to counter the right-sided attack. Jordan Morris led the team with 11 goals with the next closest Sounder player scoring five. In this case, it was three sounders Leo Chu, Albert Rusnak, and Raul Ruidiaz. Speed and decisiveness were another issue with the Sounder’s attack inside the final third. The addition of De La Vega should help with the Sounder’s pace moving towards goal and quick decisions inside the final third.
YOUNG AND VERSATILE
While just 22 years of age Dela Vega has plenty of experience. At age 17 he played for the Argentine club Lanus and showed his creativity, elusiveness, and ability to finish by scoring 17 goals recording 30 assists in 126 appearances for Lunas across various competitions. In 2020 de la Vega was a member of Argentina’s Olympic Team. Last year de la Vega scored six goals and three assists in 25 appearances for Lunas. What made de la Vega appealing to the Sounders in addition to his goal-scoring prowess was his versatility.
“ I like his work rate and ability to play multiple positions and he has a good attitude,” said Sounders FC head coach Brian Schmetzer. “Where we are going to put him and play him we will do in Spain, a lot of the technical work will be done there. He is a dribbler, he is explosive and he will run at people, and when you have players like that they will attract defenders and create space for other players. We have some very good starting points.”
Sounders FC began preseason preparations this week and now departs for a two-week training camp in Marbella, Spain. Seattle begins its 2024 Major League Soccer campaign against LAFC on Saturday, February 24 at BMO Stadium (1:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV, FOX, iHeartMedia Seattle, El Rey 1360 AM).
TRANSACTION: Sounders FC signs midfielder Pedro de la Vega as a Young Designated Player to a four-year contract through the 2027 season, with a club option for 2028 on January 24, 2024.
Name: Pedro de la Vega
Position: Midfielder
Number: 10
Height: 5-8
Weight: 165
Hometown: Olavarría, Argentina
Date of Birth: February 7, 2001 in Olavarría, Argentina
Citizenship: Argentina
Acquired: Signed as a Young Designated Player to a four-year contract through the 2027 season with a club option for 2028 on January 24, 2024
Previous Clubs: Lanús (2018-2023)
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