Andrew Thomas signs long-term extension

It looks like the Seattle Sounders have settled on Andrew Thomas to be Stefan Frei’s long-term successor. Thomas, 25, signed an extension on Monday that gives him a guaranteed contract through 2027 with club options in 2028 and 2029. He had been due to be out of contract at the end of 2024, and this will not negatively impact this year’s salary-cap situation.

“Andrew has developed and continues to improve and learn every day in training,” Sounders Director of Goalkeeping Tom Dutra said in a team release. “I feel very lucky to be able to work with three very good goalkeepers and I’m happy we will have Andrew for the future.”

Thomas joined the Sounders in 2021 as part of a special waiver draft and immediately got off to a strong start with Tacoma Defiance, posting shutouts in three of his first seven starts. But a back injury cut short his season and then a second back injury effectively wiped out his 2022 campaign. Thomas re-established himself as the Defiance’s top goalkeeper last year before going on loan to New Mexico United of the USL Championship and then won the backup job this year. Thomas has made five appearances for the Sounders this season, going 1-2-1 with one shutout in his starts.