The Sounders announced Monday the signing of veteran midfielder Nathan Sturgis, who at 28 has played for eight different Major League Soccer clubs including a previous stint in Seattle from 2009-2010.
The Sounders announced Monday the signing of veteran midfielder Nathan Sturgis, who at age 28 has played for eight Major League Soccer clubs, including a stint in Seattle from 2009-2010.
Sturgis made 18 of his 145 career MLS appearances with Houston in 2015 and has been with the Sounders throughout their preseason training camp.
“He’s technically very sound,” coach Sigi Schmid said at the Sounders’ media day at CenturyLink Field. “He’s got two good feet. He hits a great ball, finds his passes and completes his passes. He’s a good guy in the locker room, gets along with the guys. He wanted to be here, which is also an important aspect.”
Schmid’s relationship with Sturgis goes back further than that earlier Seattle tenure. Schmid also coached Sturgis’ U.S. national team at the 2005 FIFA Youth Championship in the Netherlands — a squad that also produced current and former Sounders Brad Evans, Chad Barrett, Sammy Ochoa and Patrick Ianni.
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Sturgis will provide veteran depth in a midfield short on it behind projected opening-day starters Osvaldo Alonso, Erik Friberg and Andreas Ivanschitz.
“(Sturgis) gives us a bit of a veteran presence coming off the bench in the midfield,” Schmid said. “It’s a long season. You need some of those guys, and our competition is good. When I look at our trainings, one group against the other group, there’s some pretty good football – not only from the starting group, but from the second group, as well. Nate helps that.”
Seattle general manager Garth Lagerwey also confirmed that Sounders defender Damion Lowe is on trial with Minnesota United.