UPDATE: The Sounders officially announced the acquisitions of Osaze De Rosario and Brian Aguilar on March 19.
The Tacoma Defiance will soon announce the signing of Osaze De Rosario, a 22-year-old forward who has already scored 18 goals in the Canadian Premier League as well as one goal in his only international appearance for Guyana. De Rosario had one more year remaining on his York United contract, and the club will retain a significant sell-on fee after allowing him to leave on a free transfer.
De Rosario is the eldest son of MLS legend Dwayne De Rosario, who had 103 goals and 76 assists during a prolific 16-season MLS career. Sounders GM Craig Waibel spent six seasons as De Rosario’s teammate with the San Jose Earthquakes and Houston Dynamo.
Osorio, a forward, played in both the New York City and Toronto FC academies before starting his professional career in 2021 with Ukraine Premier League club Rukh Lviv, but left shortly after the Russian invasion when President Biden urged American citizens to leave the country. Prior to appearing for Guyana in Concacaf Nations League play, De Rosario was also eligible to represent the United States and Canada.
He then spent the next two seasons with the CPL’s York United, posting 12 goals and four assists in his first season. His 16 combined goals and assists were tops in the CPL. But De Rosario’s production dipped to just six goals and two assists in a little less than 1,300 minutes last year, which was interrupted by a suspension after he tested positive for THC. Most observers seem to believe that De Rosario was one of the top offensive talents in the CPL.
Also joining the Defiance will be Brian Aguilar, a defender who will be arriving on loan from Lanús, where he was a teammate of Pedro de la Vega. Aguilar will likely play centerback for the Defiance.
