SEATTLE — The Seattle Sounders netted some roster flexibility this week when three international players acquired green cards.
Steve Zakuani, Blaise Nkufo and Jhon Kennedy Hurtado all earned permanent residence status in the United States, leaving the Sounders with three spots available for international players. The Sounders currently have five international players on the senior team out of a possible eight.
Previously this offseason, general manager Adrian Hanauer indicated that the club is likely finished with any marquee player acquisitions, saying that any players signed would likely be role players.
With the news, the Sounders can attempt to source these players from an international scouting network that has netted such players as Fredy Montero, Hurtado, Leo Gonzalez and ex-Sounder Sanna Nyassi.
The club has already acquired two international players this offseason, with Danny Earls (Ireland) and Julian Baduet (France) coming over from the Colorado Rapids in the Pete Vagenas trade.
According to a Sounders FC spokesman, Baudet, Earls, Álvaro Fernández (Uruguay), Gonzalez (Costa Rica) and Miguel Montaño (Colombia) currently fill the team’s international roster spots.
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