BY DARRELL LOVELL
The Seattle Sounders announced Friday that the club has come to terms with University of Akron right back DeAndre Yedlin to become the franchise’s first Homegrown signing.
“We are thrilled to sign DeAndre as our first Homegrown Player,” Sounders owner and general manager Adrian Hanauer said in a team statement. “Darren Sawatzky and Dick McCormick deserve much of the credit, as they have developed a top academy program for Sounders FC. Hopefully DeAndre is the first of many local players who will come through our system and wear the rave green at the professional level.”
The right back made a name for himself in two seasons at Akron for being able to get forward and aid in the attack, notching 12 assists in 45 matches. His production made him a two-time All-Conference selection.
Upon arrival in Seattle he will join incumbent Adam Johansson and Zach Scott in the mix for playing time on the right side of the Sounders’ defense.
As Yedlin prepares to embark on his professional career, he becomes the fourth Akron product to exit via the Homegrown route since Caleb Porter left the program to become head coach of Yedlin’s Cascadia rival, the Portland Timbers. Yedlin joins Scott Caldwell (New England) and Chad Barson and Wil Trapp (Columbus) as MLS Homegrown signings this off-season.