The Seattle Sounders announced Tuesday they’ve added some depth at center back for the 2016 season with the signing of Tony Alfaro, the team’s first pick in the MLS SuperDraft in January.
Alfaro, 22, was a Division II All-American last season at Cal State Dominguez Hills before Seattle selected him with the seventh pick in the second round (27th overall). A 6-foot-2, left-footed center back, Alfaro started 21 games during his final year on campus and was named the California College Athletic Association’s Defensive Player of the Year.
“We’re pleased to add a talented player like Tony to our roster as the 2016 season gets going,” Sounders GM and President of Soccer Garth Lagerwey. “He’s obviously a player we liked in the draft when we selected him and we’re looking forward to continuing his development.”
Alfaro gives the Sounders some depth at the center back spot, which currently includes starters Chad Marshall and Brad Evans, veteran backup Zach Scott and Roman Torres, who continues to recover from an ACL injury and likely won’t return until this summer at the earliest.
“Tony is a big center back with good feet and solid technical abilities who did well for us throughout the preseason,” Sounders head coach Sigi Schmid said. “He’s a player with real potential who we think can provide good depth for us on the back line this season.”
The Sounders also announced Tuesday that they have loaned third-year center back Damion Lowe to NASL side Minnesota United FC. Lowe was the club’s first-round selection (eighth overall) in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft, but has yet to make an appearance with the first team in MLS play. The 6-foot-3 Jamaican international started 14 of 17 appearances last season for Sounders FC 2, scoring one goal and one assist.
The club also announced Tuesday that it has acquired Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) and an international roster spot from Toronto FC in exchange for General Allocation Money.
