Danny Leyva makes MLS debut in Sounders loss in Montreal

Danny Levya subs on during Sounders preseason friendly

The youngest signing in Seattle Sounders FC history made his Major League Soccer debut Wednesday night.


Homegrown midfielder Danny Leyva came off the bench in the 82nd minute for Alex Roldan with the 16-year-old hoping to provide a late spark for a Sounders team needing a late equalizer, but didn't get one in a 2-1 loss to the Montreal Impact.


It was in many ways the perfect spot to give Leyva -- who was signed at 15 in April after impressing the Sounders coaching staff in preseason -- his first MLS minutes. The Sounders were seriously depleted through injury and international call-ups, so much so that two goalkeepers were part of their six bench players.


In April, Leyva was the MVP of the 2019 Generation adidas Cup, helping lead the Sounders U-17s to the title. Last month, he was also named to the US U-17 roster for Concacaf Championship where the US finished runners-up to Mexico and clinched a berth in the FIFA U-17 World Cup.