The Seattle Sounders added another talented piece to their already loaded attacking corps on Monday, signing 22-year-old Brazilian attacking midfielder Thomás Jaguaribe Bedinelli to a contract. Per league and club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Known simply as Thomás, the midfielder has made 61 career professional appearances in Brazil and Italy. He made his pro debut in 2011 with Brazilian giants Flamengo, appearing in 28 games across all competitions before being sent on loan to Italian club Siena for the 2013-2014 season.
“We are excited to welcome Thomás to Seattle,” Sounders FC GM and president of soccer Garth Lagerwey said in a statement released by the club. “He is a dynamic attacking player that has a diverse array of experience despite being only 22 years old, and we look forward to his contributions to our club.”
He made 12 appearances for the club in Serie B before moving back to Brazil. He was again sent on loan from Flamengo, landing with second division club Ponte Preta in August 2014. He made 21 total appearances with Ponte Preta, scoring one goal in his lone season with the club.
Thomás was named to Brazil’s Under-20 roster for the 2012 Eight Nations Tournament, but did not appear in a game at the competition.
“Thomás is a player we’ve been tracking for the past three years, and it’s rewarding to finally be able to welcome him to Sounders FC,” Seattle sporting director Chris Henderson said in the team’s statement. “His technical and attacking abilities are impressive, and he’ll mesh well with our current roster as we move into the second half of the 2015 season.”
Fresh off of their 2-1 win over the New York Red Bulls, the Supporters’ Shield-leading Sounders will return to action on Saturday, when they’ll face Western Conference foe Sporting Kansas City at Sporting Park (8:30 pm ET, MLS LIVE).
