Paul Arriola officially joins Sounders

In what is almost certainly the last big move before the team departs for Spain in about a week, the Seattle Sounders announced on Monday that they’ve completed a trade for Paul Arriola from FC Dallas. The Sounders will send a first-round 2026 SuperDraft pick to Dallas as well up to $300,000 in 2026 General Allocation Money if certain performance metrics are met.

As part of the move, the Sounders and Arriola agreed to a new three-year contract that includes an option for 2028. Arriola, 29, made more than $1.7 million in each of the past two seasons and had one more guaranteed year on his contract. Although his new contract details aren’t yet available, it’s believed that he likely agreed to cut his salary at least in half to facilitate the move.

“His experience at both the club and international levels speaks for itself, and his versatility on the field adds an important dimension to our roster,” Sounders GM Craig Waibel said in a statement. “This signing underscores our commitment to building a team with the depth and quality needed to compete at the highest level, and we’re excited to see the impact Paul will make here in Seattle.”

It was only three years ago that FC Dallas traded what was then a record high of $2.3 million of GAM to D.C. United to acquire him. Before that season, he then signed a four-year contract and responded with 10 goals and seven assists while also inserting himself into the United States national team picture in the buildup to the 2022 World Cup. That year he played in five World Cup qualifiers, starting three times and registering a goal and an assist, but he narrowly missed out on making the trip to Qatar.

The following season, injuries and poor form limited him to just two goals and four assists in a little less than 1,700 MLS minutes. Mostly healthy in 2024, Arriola rebounded with five goals and seven assists in about 2,500 MLS minutes while also moving around quite a bit. He finished with 17 starts at either fullback or wingback, six starts as an attacking central midfielder and five starts as a winger.

While probably not an elite winger at this point, his attacking numbers in 2024 were very good by wingback standards.

It’s not immediately clear how the Sounders see Arriola fitting in. Most likely they see him as a solid locker room presence who can provide depth at multiple positions, while also giving them a bit more flexibility to use a three centerback set up.