SEATTLE, WASH. – Sounders FC today announced that it has signed goalkeeper Stefan Frei to a new two-year contract through the 2025 season. Originally coming to Seattle prior to the 2014 campaign, Frei is a three-time club MVP, two-time Defender of the Year and five-time Humanitarian of the Year, leading Sounders FC to the 2014 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, 2014 Supporters’ Shield, two MLS Cups (2016 and 2019) and the 2022 Concacaf Champions League title. Frei is the only player in MLS history to win all four major trophies.
“We are pleased to announce that Stefan Frei will continue to play in a Sounders uniform,” said Sounders FC General Manager & Chief Soccer Officer Craig Waibel. “Already one of the most accomplished goalkeepers in league history, he continues to perform at a high level year after year. We look forward to celebrating more big moments with him in goal.”
Sounders FC’s all-time leader in all-competition appearances in the MLS era (353), Frei holds franchise records in every goalkeeping category. Over the course of his professional career with Toronto and Seattle, Frei ranks among the all-time MLS regular-season goalkeeping leaders with 378 starts (third), 159 wins (third), 105 shutouts (third) and 1,195 saves (fifth). Coming off one of his best seasons to date, the 37-year-old started 32 matches in 2023, leading MLS and setting a single-season club record with 14 shutouts, topping his own mark set in 2017. He ended the regular season with a 0.88 goals against average, a new career best and the top mark of any goalkeeper this year with more than 10 appearances.
“I am ecstatic to have Stef return for another extension to his already hugely successful career with Seattle Sounders FC. On top of being a trusted leader of this group, he showed once again this year that he is one of the top goalkeepers in MLS,” said Sounders FC Head Coach Brian Schmetzer. “A club legend in every sense of the word, his impact on this organization over the years – on and off the field – has been immeasurable.”
Coming to Seattle prior to the 2014 season via trade from Toronto, Frei helped Sounders FC capture the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and Supporters’ Shield in his first year with the club. His historic save on Jozy Altidore’s header in the 2016 MLS Cup Final secured the club’s first league championship, as Frei earned MLS Cup MVP honors against his former team at BMO Field. The 2017 MLS All-Star helped the Rave Green reach MLS Cup four out of five seasons from 2016-2020, also capturing the 2019 title. A finalist for MLS Goalkeeper of the Year in 2017 and 2018, Frei led Seattle to its historic 2022 Concacaf Champions League title, earning Player of the Tournament, Goalkeeper of the Tournament and Best XI honors.
“I'm excited to continue my career here with the Seattle Sounders,” said Frei. "From my first taste of Open Cup in 2014 to making history winning the Champions League in 2022, my time here has been filled with nothing but good memories. However, as a wise man once said, we're not done yet. I look forward to more opportunities to add to our trophy cabinet and keep writing history. I cannot wait for our next season to start. Go Sounders!”
A five-time winner of the club’s Humanitarian of the Year award (2018, 2019, 2021-2023), Frei has worked extensively with Sounders FC charitable partner RAVE Foundation’s efforts to build mini-pitches in underserved communities. An avid artist off the pitch, Frei has helped establish RAVE Foundation’s Goals for Art program, in addition to designing custom pieces for the Glassybaby Foundation and scarves to benefit pediatric cancer at Seattle Children’s Hospital. In 2019, Frei was instrumental in granting a Make-A-Wish experience for Bheem Goyal, an eight-year-old battling Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia. He has also participated in Sounders FC’s efforts with Washington’s Office of the Secretary of State to educate youth on the importance of voting. Frei also worked with the TreeKeeper program that aims to preserve the Brazilian rainforest and move tree species off the endangered list.
Sounders FC finished the 2023 regular season second in the Western Conference with 53 points (14-9-11), advancing to the Western Conference Semifinals before falling 1-0 to LAFC. The club heads into the offseason with its sights set on the 2024 campaign, which kicks off early next year.
