The Seattle Sounders probably aren’t going to make a move before the transfer window closes on Wednesday, but they’ll still have one pretty big chip that they could play in order to add to the roster in the summer transfer window that will open early for them on June 1. Seattle has an open U22 spot available, and General Manager & Chief Soccer Officer Craig Waibel has made it clear that the club would like to use that spot on a striker.
The Sounders seemed pretty well staffed at the No. 9 position coming into this season. Jordan Morris proved himself to be a very capable striker over the last two seasons – enough so to earn himself a Designated Player contract – and Jesús Ferreira had joined the club with proven bonafides in the league as a goal scorer. Despite a lack of production in his time with the Sounders, Danny Musovski rounded out the group with plenty of grit and willingness to do the dirty work needed to help the team function even if he wasn’t putting the ball in the back of the net. In the time since the season started it’s become clear that, at least at this point in time, Ferreira is best suited to help the team on the wing or as a dual-10/second striker. Musovski has come into his own over the last couple of weeks, but the fact remains that the clearest opportunity to improve this team is by adding a young striker who combines upside with an ability to contribute right away.
That kind of player doesn’t come cheaply but the U22 spot allows the team the flexibility to spend, and the money they’ll receive for participating in the Club World Cup provides them with the means to go and get a player that is more of a sure thing than most U22 players tend to be.
With that in mind, it seems worth looking at just what sort of player might fit the bill. We’re looking at players who at least play primarily as a striker, who is 22 years old or younger (players who will turn 23 in 2025 are not eligible for a U22 spot), and are at least scoring goals at a high level this season but hopefully have some history of scoring beyond this year. The Sounders probably aren’t going to spend more than they did on Pedro de la Vega — reportedly $7.5 million — so we’re essentially making that our theoretical ceiling for a required transfer fee. Lastly, we’re also probably looking at guys who will be willing to, at least for a little while, be behind Jordan Morris. Now that that’s all laid out, let’s get to the fun part: listing some guys!
The longest shot
Damion Downs: I’ll start by saying that this move almost certainly isn’t happening. Damion Downs is a pretty regular starter for an 1. FC Köln side that seems very likely to be promoted to the Bundesliga. Downs has 10 goals and 2 assists in 1,595 minutes in the 2. Bundesliga. The 6’4” striker has both German and American citizenship, having lived in the U.S. as a kid, and seems to be in the picture for Mauricio Pochettino’s USMNT. He combines a big body with pace, impressive technique, and an ability to read the game with instinctual finishing.
Transfermarkt estimates Downs has a market value of about $5.7 million, but with his team likely moving up to the German first division next season and rumors of interest from other top leagues already floating around the actual fee it would take to pry him away is likely a bit higher than that. One factor that could potentially play to Seattle’s advantage here is the fact that Downs could push his way into being the starting striker for the U.S. with a World Cup on home soil in 2026. The Sounders have had their fare share of USMNT players suit up for them, and the ability to help get DeAndre Yedlin, Jordan Morris and Cristian Roldan serious looks and trips to World Cups in the cases of Morris and Yedlin could weigh in their favor. A complicating factor here could be the size of role that Downs would expect or require to make a move like this happen, but the Sounders should at least ask the question. Maybe being able to put him on a big stage and play at the World Cup in front of his club team’s fans with the promise of helping facilitate his next move is a strong enough pitch.
