SEATTLE, WASH. – Sounders FC today announced that it has signed midfielders Zach Mathers and Jordy Delem ahead of Saturday’s 2017 season-opener at the Houston Dynamo (5:30 p.m. PT / Q13 FOX, KIRO Radio 97.3 FM, El Rey 1360 AM). The pair of young central midfielders join the Seattle First Team after playing for Sounders FC 2 – the club’s USL side – throughout the 2016 season. Mathers joins the roster immediately, while Delem is being added pending receipt of his P-1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate.

“Adding Zach and Jordy provides us depth and versatility in the midfield as we get ready to begin the 2017 season,” said Sounders FC General Manager & President of Soccer Gath Lagerwey. “It’s also another great example of our development system at work, as both players join the First Team after impressing last year with S2 and proving their abilities throughout our preseason camp.”

Mathers, 22, recorded three goals and four assists in 19 appearances for S2 last season. The midfielder played in three matches for Sounders FC in the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup after earning short-term agreements to join the senior squad. A three-time All-ACC selection at Duke, Seattle selected Mathers in the Second Round (35th overall) in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft after a senior season in which he led the Blue Devils with eight goals and eight assists.

Delem, 23, made 19 appearances for S2 in 2016 and recorded an assist in a 1-1 draw against Whitecaps FC 2 on August 6. The Martinique international joined S2 after playing for Club Franciscain of Martinique's Championnat National League and France's AC Arles-Avignon B squad. The versatile defensive midfielder has 32 caps and five goals for the Martinique National Team.

Seattle begins the 2017 MLS regular season with two road matches: at the Houston Dynamo on Saturday, March 4 and at the Montreal Impact on Saturday, March 11. The defending MLS champion's home-opener is scheduled for Sunday, March 19 against the New York Red Bulls in a nationally televised match on FS1.

TRANSACTION: Sounders FC signs midfielders Zach Mathers and Jordy Delem on March 2, 2017.

Name: Zach Mathers

Position: Midfielder

Height: 5-11

Weight: 172

Born: April 14, 1994 in Fort Worth, Texas

Hometown: Keller, Texas

Citizenship: United States

Acquired: Selected with the 15th pick of the second round (35th overall) in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft. Signed to a First Team contract on March 2, 2017.

Name: Jordy Delem

Position: Midfielder

Height: 5-11

Weight: 156

Born: March 18, 1993

Hometown: Fort-de-France, Martinique

Citizenship: Martinique

Acquired: Signed to S2 contract on April 29, 2016. Signed to a First Team contract on March 2, 2017.

Previous Clubs: Club Franciscain (MAR), AC Arles-Avignon B (FRA)