Sounders FC hires Fredy Montero

SEATTLE, WASH. – Seattle Sounders FC announced today that they have signed striker Fredy Montero. The Colombian returns to Seattle, where he played from 2009-2012, winning the Golden Boot of Sounders FC in each of the club’s first three seasons in the MLS and accumulating 47 goals and 34 assists in the regular season. After playing abroad in Colombia, Portugal and China, Montero has spent three of the past four seasons in Vancouver, where he scored 26 goals and 14 assists for Whitecaps FC. Montero signs a one-year contract with club options in 2022 and 2023, and is set to join Sounders FC in the preseason, following mandatory testing and quarantine protocols.

“Fredy is a prolific striker who has proven his worth in MLS and abroad, as well as maintaining several records at the club here,” said Sounders FC general manager and president of football, Garth Lagerwey. “When good players return to Seattle, it shows the strong culture that we have built. I look forward to bringing him into the group and seeing what he can contribute to our attack. “

Montero, 33, joined Sounders FC from Deportivo Cali Colombia before the club’s inaugural MLS season in 2009. He went on to lead Rave Green in goals each year from 2009-2011 and recorded total double-digit goals in each one of his four seasons in Seattle. Montero’s 47 goals and 34 assists for Seattle in the regular season are the most tied in the club’s history with Clint Dempsey and Mauro Rosales, respectively, and his 60 goals in all competitions is a franchise record.

“I have a lot of good memories of Fredy Montero with a Sounders shirt and I’m happy to welcome him back to the club,” said Sounders FC coach Brian Schmetzer. “He has always been a dynamic striker with a strong finishing touch. I’m always happy to have players who can score goals and I’m looking forward to putting him on the training ground as our preparations for 2021 increase ”.

After the 2012 season, Montero made a couple of loans to Millonarios in Colombia and Sporting CP in Portugal, the latter being transferred permanently in January 2014. Montero scored 27 goals in three seasons in Portugal before moving to one. Chinese club Tianjin Tigers FC, where he scored nine goals in the 2016 campaign. After a season of 13 goals and six assists while on loan at Vancouver in 2017, Montero played another season with Sporting CP in 2018 before returning to Whitecaps FC for the 2019 and 2020 seasons.

Montero’s signing brings the current Sounders FC roster to 23 players. The club began its 2021 preseason this week on Starfire Sports, with the regular MLS season set to begin on the weekend of April 17.

TRANSACTION: Sounders FC signs Fredy Montero for a one-year contract with club options in 2022 and 2023 on March 4, 2021.

Full name: Fredy Montero
Position: Advance
Height: 5-9
Weight: 165
Hometown: Barranquilla, Colombia
Date of birth: July 26, 1987 in Campo de la Cruz, Colombia
Nationality: Colombia
Acquired: Signed on March 4, 2021
Previous clubs: Vancouver Whitecaps FC (2017, 2019-2020), Sporting CP (2013-2016, 2018-2019), Tianjin Tigers FC (2016), Millonarios (2013), Seattle Sounders FC (2009-2012), Deportivo Cali (2005-2010 ), Academia (2005), Atlético Huila (2006-2007)