SEATTLE, WASH. – Sounders FC today announced that it has re-signed forward Fredy Montero to a one-year contract, with a club option for 2023. The club’s all-time leading goal-scorer with 68 goals across all competitions, Montero enters his 18th professional season and sixth with the Rave Green, following a return to Seattle last season and prolific four-year stint with organization from 2009-2012.
“Fredy continues to be a valuable player for Sounders FC after finishing second on the club in scoring last season,” said Sounders FC General Manager & President of Soccer Garth Lagerwey. “A productive player and a familiar face for fans, we are happy to bring him back for the 2022 season."
The Colombian returned to Seattle last season following an eight-year absence, finishing the regular season second on the team with seven goals and tied for second with six assists in 29 appearances (15 starts), in addition to one goal in three 2021 Leagues Cup appearances. Montero holds Sounders FC’s regular-season and all-competitions scoring records with 54 and 68 goals, respectively. His 40 regular-season assists rank second in club history to Nicolás Lodeiro.
“Fredy has been a very important member of our organization for a long time,” said Sounders FC Head Coach Brian Schmetzer. “We’re excited that he’ll continue his illustrious career in Seattle, and he gives us another reliable, veteran piece in the attack.”
Montero began his MLS career in Seattle from 2009-2012, winning Sounders FC’s Golden Boot each of the club’s first three MLS seasons and accumulating 47 goals and 34 assists in regular-season play. Following the 2012 season, Montero went on a pair of loan spells with Colombia’s Millonarios and Portugal’s Sporting CP, the latter of which he joined on a permanent transfer in January of 2014. Montero scored 27 goals across three seasons in Portugal before moving to Chinese club Tianjin Tigers FC, where he tallied nine goals in the 2016 campaign. After a 13-goal, six-assist season while on loan with Vancouver in 2017, Montero played one more season with Sporting CP in 2018 before returning to Whitecaps FC for the 2019 and 2020 seasons.
“Having Fredy back on our team provides us with even more goal-scoring talent, joining what is already a very dangerous attacking group,” said Sounders FC Senior Vice President of Soccer Operations & Sporting Director Craig Waibel. “On top of that, he knows this organization inside and out, so we’re pleased to have him back this season.”
Prior to joining MLS, Montero began his professional career in 2005 with Deportivo Cali. He finished as the Colombian topflight’s leading goal-scorer in 2006 with 13 goals while on loan with Atlético Huila, as well as in 2008 with 16 goals for Cali. The Barranquila native has four caps for the Colombian National Team.
TRANSACTION: Sounders FC re-signs forward Fredy Montero on January 21, 2022.
Full Name: Fredy Montero
Position: Forward
Number: 12
Height: 5-9
Weight: 165
Hometown: Barranquilla, Colombia
Date of Birth: July 26, 1987 in Campo de la Cruz, Colombia
Nationality: Colombia
Acquired: Re-signed on January 21, 2022
Previous Clubs: Vancouver Whitecaps FC (2017, 2019-2020), Sporting CP (2013-2016, 2018-2019), Tianjin Tigers FC (2016), Millonarios (2013), Seattle Sounders FC (2009-2012), Deportivo Cali (2005-2010), Academia (2005), Atlético Huila (2006-2007)
CURRENT SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC ROSTER
GOALKEEPERS (3): Stefan Cleveland, Stefan Frei, Andrew Thomas
DEFENDERS (7): Yeimar Gómez Andrade, Xavier Arreaga, Abdoulaye Cissoko, Jimmy Medranda, Nouhou, Alex Roldan, Brad Smith
MIDFIELDERS (12): Josh Atencio, Reed Baker-Whiting, Léo Chú, Ethan Dobbelaere, João Paulo, Danny Leyva, Nicolás Lodeiro, Cristian Roldan, Kelyn Rowe, Albert Rusnák, Obed Vargas, Dylan Teves
FORWARDS (6): Samuel Adeniran, Will Bruin, Fredy Montero, Jordan Morris, Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez, Raúl Ruidíaz
