Following Paul Arriola’s season-ending injury against Cruz Azul on March 11, the Seattle Sounders needed to find a player to fill the attacking void the winger had previously provided.
After an extensive search, the Sounders decided that Ryan Kent was the man for the job.
On Monday, the club announced the acquisition of the 28-year-old for the remainder of the year, with an option for 2026.
“What we wanted to do is add a player that has the potential to be a difference maker, or add quality to the group,” said General Manager & Chief Soccer Officer Craig Waibel. “It took a little less time than I thought it was going to take, just with the budget we had. But the fact was, once we started talking to Ryan, his level of interest in MLS right now, and the timing in his career, [it] was perfect.”
Prior to signing with Seattle, the English player had a vast career in Europe, beginning with his experience in Liverpool’s youth system. From there, his professional endeavors led him on a 10-year journey that included loan spells with five different teams, before settling with Scottish Premier League side Rangers FC where he was recognized as the Scotland Young Player of the Year (2018-’19), earned two Scottish Premiership Team of the Year honors (2018-’19, 2020-’21), and was awarded a spot on the UEFA Europa League Team of the Season (2021-’22).
It was not until his two-season stint with Turkish side Fenerbahçe, however, when he felt the move to Major League Soccer and the Sounders would be the next destination in his career.
“I think, with the trajectory that MLS is going right now, it's a league that's definitely becoming a lot more exciting, a lot more opportunities, and I’d definitely say a lot more better players are taking the opportunity to join MLS,” said Kent. “It's a new chapter for me, and one I'm looking forward to.”
The addition of the winger will be beneficial for the team in more ways than one. As a dynamic attacking player, Kent’s ability to make plays in the final third and in 1-v-1 situations will allow the team more opportunities to create chances and score goals.
“He's really brave on the ball. He always wants it,” said Assistant Coach Andy Rose. “And so to add somebody of his experience who's played at the level he's played at, you know, top teams in Europe and playing in top competitions in Europe, that sort of experience mentality is certainly going to help our group.”
This will be especially valuable given his versatility on the pitch.
“He's a really intelligent player, so he can certainly play anywhere across the front line,” said Rose. “He can really play on either side… What makes him such a threat against defenders is really his ability to be going to the left or to the right, his ability to cut inside and shoot and score goals.”
While it’s been seven months since Kent mutually departed from Fenerbahçe, the Oldham, England native has never been more ready to get back on the pitch and help his new team toward future trophies.
“It's the hardest I've worked in the past three months, you know, dedicating my time to my body, really keeping fit, and just concentrating on what I needed to do to allow me to step into a footballing environment again and get going straight from the beginning,” said Kent.
Waibel is confident he will be able to achieve exactly that.
“The quality of what he is and the age he's at, I just don't know if there are any limitations as to why he can't come here and get back to his top level of performance,” he said. “[The] sky's the limit in terms of the way he can fit in this league.”
