Sounders FC continues to bolster its offense with its recent addition of Caden Clark.
Following the club’s blockbuster Designated Player announcement of Dejan Joveljić, the Rave Green finalized its summer transfer window signings with the former D.C. United midfielder on Sept. 3. Clark will maintain his U-22 roster designation with the move.
“I'm happy to be here,” said Clark following his first training session with the club. ”Good group of guys…they welcomed me very quickly with open arms.”
Despite being just 23-years-old, Clark comes in with a vast amount of professional experience. Beyond the club level, he helped propel the U-20 U.S. team to a Concacaf title in 2022 and featured in a pair of friendlies with the senior team in 2025, collecting a goal and an assist.
The Minnesota native has shown a lot of promise since debuting his professional career in 2020, scoring 13 goals and 11 assists in MLS. He was even considered one of the hottest new prospects when he broke into the league at just 17-years-old.
After putting up six goals and five assists in just under 1,800 minutes as a teenager with Red Bull New York, Clark earned a transfer to Bundesliga side RB Leipzig. Following a series of loans – both to RBNY and Danish club Vendyssel FF – he returned to MLS with Minnesota United in 2024. Midway through his first season in the Midwest, Clark was traded to CF Montreal, where he once again produced the magic he displayed in his early seasons in MLS, tallying four goals and four assists in just nine matches.
Clark continued to be a focal point in Montreal’s attack in 2025 before getting traded to D.C. United, where he spent just over a year before making the move to Seattle.
The underlying raw talent has always been been there with Clark. But circumstances and timing are everything in a player’s career. According to Head Coach Brian Schmetzer, the club is hoping to provide him a stable, reliable platform to re-capture the immense potential he’s shown in his young career.
“The teams he was on, there was always a change in coaching,” said Schmetzer. “So he really hasn't had stability as far as coaching is concerned, so sometimes it's just bad luck along your career.”
Dating back to Sounders FC’s inaugural MLS season back in 2009, the club boasts a rich history of developing players. Whether it be career MLS guys like Will Bruin and Harry Shipp enjoying career seasons with Seattle, or young talents like Obed Vargas and Nouhou working their way up from Tacoma Defiance, this team’s track record of getting the best out of talented players is formidable.
“Let's get him into training, let's figure out if he's coachable, if he's a smart soccer player, because that's what I like,” said Schmetzer. “See if he puts the work in to make sure that we check all those boxes to why he hasn't found a home, and then we can discuss tactics and where he plays and how he plays a little bit differently.
“But we're looking at him with open eyes.”
The latest acquisition comes as an opportunity for not only the Sounders to guide him in the right direction as it relates to his development, but for Clark to embrace this new chapter at a club that has his best interest at heart.
“What we see on film and where he's played different positions is a little incomplete because he hasn't found real consistent playing time since that little spell that he had in Minnesota, and you know he's got some other places where he's played some games. But what I would tell you is he’s a talented kid,” said Schmetzer. “[We wanted to] take a chance on this kid because you watch him and he's good.
“He's coming here with an opportunity.”
With Pedro de la Vega’s injury status and other players slowly making their way back to consistent minutes after being out, Clark provides another attacking piece that the Rave Green need to reignite offensive momentum.
Clark is eager to seize the opportunity in front of him.
“I’ve been on the sidelines too long this year, so I'm full of energy,” said Clark. “I'm fresh, ready to go. Still got young legs, [and want to] just get on the field…Try to prove a point, but also just be a good teammate. You know, do whatever the team needs, and do anything I can to add a little push.”
