Sounders FC today announced that it has signed forward Justin Dhillon. The leading scorer for Tacoma Defiance this season, Dhillon has six goals in 14 appearances in his first season for Seattle’s USL side. Dhillon joins the First Team ahead of Saturday’s match vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC at CenturyLink Field (7:00 p.m. PT / JOEtv, YouTube TV, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM).

“Justin adds to our growing list of players who have been signed directly to our USL club and made the jump to MLS, joining Jordy Delem and Nouhou,” said Sounders FC General Manager & President of Soccer Garth Lagerwey. “Justin is a player who has proven himself at the USL level, and we’re looking forward to seeing what he can do with the First Team.”

After signing with Tacoma Defiance on March 15, Dhillon has started 10 of his 14 appearances and leads the club with six goals this season, including a five-match scoring streak from May 12-June 8. The 24-year-old made history on May 18 by scoring just nine seconds into a 1-1 draw with Reno 1868 FC, marking the fastest goal in USL Championship history.

Dhillon started seven of 18 appearances for LA Galaxy II in 2018 and scored three goals. He played in 21 games (13 starts) as a rookie for Los Dos in 2017, recording six goals and two assists. Prior to joining LA Galaxy II, Dhillon appeared in 73 games in four seasons at Cal Poly University and recorded 15 goals and 12 assists. As a senior in 2016, he started all 17 games for the Mustangs and posted seven goals and two assists.

Dhillon marks the third member of Tacoma Defiance signed to the First Team this season, following Homegrown Players Danny Leyva and Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez. Since the club launched its USL side prior to the 2015 season, 11 players have been added to the First Team roster via Sounders FC 2 / Tacoma Defiance.

After a two-and-a-half-week break from MLS play, Sounders FC returns to league action on Saturday, June 29 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC at CenturyLink Field (7:00 p.m. PT / JOEtv, YouTube TV, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM).

TRANSACTION: Sounders FC signs forward Justin Dhillon on June 28, 2019.

Name: Justin Dhillon

Position: Forward

Height: 6-3

Weight: 185

Born: June 6, 1995 in Rancho Santa Margarita, California

Hometown: Rancho Santa Margarita, California

Citizenship: United States

College: Cal Poly