The Seattle Sounders added a veteran defender to the ranks on Thursday, signing Swedish international Adam Johansson to a multi-year contract.
Johansson's signing will be finalized upon receipt of his P-1 visa and International Clearance.
The 28-year-old has played the past seven years for IFK Göteborg in Sweden's top league, the Allsvenskan. He has made a total of 129 league appearances for Göteborg since 2005, scoring two goals. His pro career began with Västra Frölunda of the second tier in 2002.
"Adam has been a mainstay at Göteborg for years and we are very happy to add him to our defense," Sounders technical director Chris Henderson said in a statement. "His leadership and experience are going to be a great [complement] to the growth of our team.
"Adam is very good tactically and is smart in the way he joins the attack from the back," Henderson added. "We are pleased he is also in the running for the starting right back role for Sweden as they prepare for the Euros."
In 2009, Johansson made his full international debut for Sweden in a friendly against the US at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. and later started in three World Cup qualifiers, playing on both the left and right side. His ninth and most recent cap came against Cyprus in February 2011.
"I had a great stay in Seattle while meeting with officials from the club, and seeing the stadium and training ground," Johansson said in a statement. "I got a really good feeling. It will be a new start for me, a new life. It's going to be a good adventure. The Sounders are one of the biggest teams in the United States. They want to be one of the top clubs in North and South America and have big crowds. I'm joining a club with a very good reputation."
The Sounders defense has certainly seen some changes since the close of the 2011 season. They lost defender James Riley to the Expansion Draft (he was later dealt to Chivas USA) and shipped Tyson Wahl to the Montreal Impact, and Taylor Graham announced his retirement in early December.
They also picked up Marc Burch from D.C. United via the Re-Entry Draft earlier this month.
