Seattle Sounders sign Stanford standout Jordan Morris
At long last, Jordan Morris is going home.
The Seattle Sounders announced Thursday the signing of Stanford University forward Morris to the largest Homegrown Player contract in MLS history.
"We've been following Jordan for a long time and have been impressed with his athleticism, work rate, and finishing ability," Sounders head coach Sigi Schmid said. "He's also a guy with great character and a strong family who we know very well, so we think he’ll be a great fit for our team."
Welcome Home. pic.twitter.com/5cY6rRUsEK
— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) January 21, 2016
Morris, a 2016 Hermann Trophy winner and U.S. international, spent the last few weeks training with Werder Bremen. Though he was reportedly offered a contract with the German outfit, Morris opted to join the Sounders, which held his discovery rights.
It's good to be home! #seattlelove pic.twitter.com/X4mBwkEkMj
— Jordan Morris (@JmoSmooth13) January 21, 2016
The Seattle-born Morris previously spent time with the Sounders Academy before moving to Stanford, where he helped guide the team to a 2015 NCAA Championship. With the Cardinals, he was given a U.S. national team nod by manager Jurgen Klinsmann, who said he's "thrilled" Morris decided to go pro.
"This is the really important decision," Klinsmann said. "And I'm thrilled with the Sounders, that he goes into an environment that he knows, that he feels comfortable with, and that he feels now that, 'At this specific point in time, this is the best move for me.'
"(Morris) feels he's not ready for Europe. He feels the next big step for him is the Sounders where he knows everybody, and for us it's great because the moment he steps now on the training field he's in a professional environment. That's good."
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