With the 45th overall pick in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft, the Sounders selected defender Markus Fjortoft. Standing at 6-5, 205 pounds, the hulking center back starred at Duke University for four seasons, earning the team's Defensive MVP award in 2016 and 2017. He played alongside Sounders midfielder Zach Mathers for two seasons. Prior to his time at Duke, Fjortoft - whose father, Jan Age, earned 71 caps with Norway - played in the Academy for Norwegian club Baerum SK.
"He had a solid week [at the MLS Combine]," Vice President of Soccer & General Manager Chris Henderson said. "He has a good understanding of his positioning. He has good size, he did pretty well in one-on-one defending. He sounded very excited for the opportunity."
Fjortoft, who turns 24 on Sunday, will look to learn from First Team center backs Román Torres, Chad Marshall and Tony Alfaro. Teaming up alongside 18-year-old Sam Rogers, the 6-3 center back who signed with S2 last summer, the Rave Green's USL affiliate may have the most physically imposing defensive tandem in the league.
