The latest report out of Panama is that the former Malaga centerback is already in Seattle. Supposedly the contract is nearly finished, with a physical on Sunday being all that stands between Seattle Sounders FC and another national team quality centerback. According to SomosSele Roberto Chen himself told them that he is in Seattle to finish the deal.

Chen rumors first started back in 2013, and like those multi-year rumors regarding the acquisition of Nelson Haedo Valdez look to be coming true under Garth Lagerwey.

Currently the Sounders are in Tucson for preseason where they are working on establishing a 4-3-3. How Chen would fit in with a defense that already includes Chad Marshall, Brad Evans and Roman Torres at CB is unknown. But, collecting talented players is something that the club has been willing to do in the past.

Chen is coming off of a knee injury, as is fellow Panaman NT player Torres. So the club would have some time to figure out their Ideal XI (a platonic thought experiment that may never exist in a year with the Copa America Cenetario, Olympics, World Cup Qualifying, Open Cup and CONCACAF Champions League).

Roberto is part of the Panamanian senior and U23 national teams. They did not qualify for the Olympics, but remain in contention for a Russia 2018 World Cup spot. Their next match is March 25th against Haiti.