Seattle Sounders General Manager & President of Soccer Garth Lagerwey confirmed on Monday that defender Joevin Jones will join Germany’s SV Darmstadt 98 following the 2017 MLS campaign.
Seattle acquired Jones, 25, in a trade with the Chicago Fire in January 2016 and has become a significant contributor for the Rave Green. Since last March, he has appeared in 54 league matches for the Sounders, recording 12 assists and three goals in regular-season MLS play. He also has three assists in six postseason matches.
When Seattle acquired Jones, it did so with the knowledge that he was not on a long-term contract. The club attempted to retain him, but Jones was set on pursuing opportunities overseas.
“We had conversations with him about securing [a contract extension], but ultimately Joevin chose to go to Germany,” Lagerwey said. “Long pre-dating me, to when Adrian Hanauer was the general manager here, we have had a sterling reputation of honoring our players’ wishes and being a participant in the international marketplace. It’s certainly exciting to add players, but the reality is we will also have players go out the other way. If anything, when we have players leave we want them to do well.”
It may seem startling to see Jones sign a contract with another club as the Sounders prepare for another postseason run, but FIFA allows players to negotiate and sign pre-contracts within six months of the end of their current contract. There is nothing to suggest, though, that Jones’ status nor his on-field performance will change for the remainder of the campaign.
“Joevin is a good pro,” Head Coach Brian Schmetzer said following Monday’s training session. “He has a lot of credibility within the group, not just because he is a good player, but he is a good team player, a good guy. I expect him, as long as he is here, to do exactly what the team needs to win games. And he has proven that the two years he has been here.”
Although Lagerwey emphasizes the importance of competition, Nouhou, a 20-year-old Cameroonian who starred for S2 last season, has shown potential in his first MLS campaign. He has made four starts in nine MLS matches this season, which, at times, has pushed Jones up to left wing to allow both players to be on the pitch. In addition, veteran Brad Evans and Kelvin Leerdam, a 28-year-old from Holland who signed in early July, provide additional support at the fullback position.
“When we signed Joevin, we were comfortable with a potential 18-month engagement because we thought he could help us win a title. He did that. We have had return on that investment,” Lagerwey said. “Can Nouhou help us down the road? Yeah, but the better guy is going to play [for the remainder of the season]. Nothing is assured for anybody. Our goal is one thing, very simple: to defend our title.”
Added Schmetzer: “I am going to be disappointed to lose him. He has been a tremendous player and was a big part of our MLS Cup run. His growth as a player has taken off here in Seattle and has given him opportunities…Hopefully it’s a good deal for him, and me, personally, I am going to miss him.”
