SEATTLE, WASH. – Sounders FC today announced that it has signed defender Saad Abdul-Salaam. Prior to signing the deal, Seattle acquired his rights from New York City FC in exchange for $50,000 in Targeted Allocation Money (TAM). Abdul-Salaam had been with Sounders FC during 2019 preseason as a guest player prior to signing a contract.

“We are pleased to welcome Saad officially into the club, after he showed his diverse skillset during preseason camp,” said Sounders FC General Manager & President of Soccer Garth Lagerwey. “Saad has experience both at fullback and in central defense, and his athleticism will serve our team well across our backline. We are excited to see what he brings to the squad over the course of the season.”

Abdul-Salaam, 27, has started 49 of his 68 appearances since joining the league in 2015, recording one goal and 10 assists. Sporting Kansas City made him the 12th overall selection in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft out of the University of Akron. He spent three seasons with SKC, including a 2016 campaign in which he recorded career highs in games played (30), starts (26) and assists (6). Following the 2017 season, Abdul-Salaam was traded to New York City FC, where he recorded two assists in four appearances last season before being loaned to USL side Phoenix Rising FC for the remainder of 2018.

Seattle's 2019 MLS season begins on Saturday, March 2, as the Rave Green host expansion side FC Cincinnati in a 7:00 p.m. PT match set to be nationally televised on FS1.

TRANSACTION: Sounders FC signs defender Saad Abdul-Salaam after acquiring his rights from New York City FC in exchange for $50,000 in Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) on February 26, 2019.

Name: Saad Abdul-Salaam

Position: Defender

Height: 6-4

Weight: 185

Born: September 8, 1991 in Charlotte, NC

Hometown: Gahanna, OH

Citizenship: United States

College: Akron

Acquired: Signed with Sounders FC on February 26, 2019 after the club acquired his rights from New York City FC in exchange for $50,000 in Targeted Allocation Money (GAM).