Sounders FC today announced that it has loaned forward Jordan Morris to Swansea City of the English Championship. Morris joins the Welsh side immediately and will remain with the club through its 2020-2021 campaign, which is scheduled to conclude in May. Since signing as a Homegrown Player prior to the 2016 season, Morris has 41 goals and 23 assists in 121 MLS appearances (including postseason play), helping the Rave Green to four MLS Cup appearances and two championships. The Mercer Island native was named 2016 MLS Newcomer of the Year, 2019 MLS Comeback Player of the Year, as well as a 2020 MLS Best XI selection and finalist for the 2020 Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player Award.
“When our club signed Jordan as a Homegrown Player prior to the 2016 season, we said at that time he was a unique individual with a special relationship with Sounders FC. That sentiment is as true today as it was then, and we have worked directly with Jordan and his family on completing this loan agreement as he looks to take a seminal step in his career,” said Sounders FC General Manager & President of Soccer Garth Lagerwey. “As one of the finest soccer players Western Washington has produced and an even better ambassador for our community, Jordan means a great deal to our fans, our club and the Puget Sound region. We know he will represent us well as he begins his journey in English football, and we wish him luck as he prepares to aid Swansea in its push for Premier League qualification. At the end of the day, this move is all about Jordan and what he wants from his career. Our club and city are behind him as he embarks on the next phase of his journey, and should he return to Seattle at the end of this loan, we know he will be stronger for the experience.”
Morris just won his second consecutive Sounders FC MVP Award after appearing in all 22 of Sounders FC’s regular season matches in 2020. His 10 goals were tied for fifth in MLS and his eight assists tied for fourth. His 18 combined goals and assists were tied for second league-wide with MLS Golden Boot winner Diego Rossi, behind only Alejandro Pozuelo’s 19. This marked the Mercer Island native’s second consecutive season with double-digit goals, after tallying 10 strikes and seven assists in 2019. Since signing with Sounders FC prior to the 2016 season, Morris has totaled 35 goals and 20 assists in 105 regular season appearances, in addition to six goals and three assists in 16 postseason matches. Morris was one of three Sounders FC players to be named to the 2020 MLS Best XI squad (Nico Lodeiro, Raúl Ruidíaz) and one of two club finalists for 2020 Landon Donovan MLS MVP (Lodeiro).
The versatile attacker prepares to join a Swansea City side that is in the midst of a push for the Premier League, England’s topflight division and one of the elite club football circuits in the world. Swansea was last in the Premier League during the 2017-2018 season prior to being relegated that campaign. The Swans currently occupy second place in the English Football League Championship – England’s highly competitive section tier – with the top two league positions automatically qualifying for the Premier League. Places three through six square off in a four-team playoff at season’s end, with the winner securing the third and final promotion position for the next Premier League season. Swansea has 22 matches remaining in its current Championship campaign, while the club is also still alive in the FA Cup, the oldest club knockout competition in the world.
“I’m very proud of the player and professional that Jordan has become. He’s been a large part of this club’s success and has more than earned this opportunity to ply his trade abroad,” said Sounders FC Head Coach Brian Schmetzer. “This particular move gives him a chance to showcase his skillset and opens a number options for his future. On top of that, I am excited to watch him play for Swansea.”
A staple of the U.S. Men's National Team, Morris has 39 international appearances and 10 goals for the USMNT since making his debut in 2014 while attending Stanford University, where he led the Cardinal to a NCAA National Championship and won the 2015 MAC Hermann Trophy. Prior to his time at Stanford, Morris joined the Sounders FC Academy in 2012 and went on to star for the club’s U-18 squad, scoring 28 goals in 32 games, while being named 2012-2013 U.S. Soccer Development Academy National Player of the Year.
