Former Rennes and Nice defender Onyekachi Apam reportedly signed with Seattle Sounders FC prior to the roster deadline date. The team has not announced the signing yet, but is expected to do so later today or tomorrow.

Hearing the player Sounders signed is former Nigeria international Onyekachi Apam. Announcement today or tomorrow. http://t.co/DcEx2bKhxO — Jeremiah Oshan (@JeremiahOshan) September 19, 2014

Apam won Olympic Silver with Nigeria and was once an up-and-coming prospect with Nice in France. His time with Rennes was plagued with injuries managing only 23 appearance with the club over three seasons. Those rare starts came at center back, but the 5'9" Apam has experience across the backline.

Last Winter several Premier League clubs were linked to the defender.

Premier League trio Everton, West Bromwich Albion and Sunderland have all been linked with the Nigeria international in the past.

That English interest passed and he didn't transfer in the last two windows. The free signing is clearly a reclamation-health project, similar in some ways to Gonzalo Pineda.

If he turns back to the type of player he was, his role would likely be the way DeLaGarza plays off of Omar Gonzalez. Though diminutive for a center back he rates as a decent header of the ball with strong defense.

At just 27 with Olympic (2008), Ligue 1 and Europa League experience this is almost certainly a low-risk, potentially high-reward signing. He's been available on a free for eight months, the price is unlikely to be high. If it works, he's a strong acquisition, if not, he'll be available on a free again soon.