By DAN KARELL
The Seattle Sounders may have found a replacement for DeAndre Yedlin at right back.
Late Monday evening, the Sounders announced that they’ve signed free agent defender Tyrone Mears, pending the receipt of his P-1 visa and international transfer certificate. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, per club and league policy, but the signing is classified as a “discovery signing.”
“Tyrone is a player we had an opportunity to evaluate over the past summer when he trained with us in Seattle and we were very impressed with his pedigree,” Sounders head coach Sigi Schmid said in a statement. “He’s a fullback that is solid defensively, with the ability to posses the ball and to get forward in the attack. Tyrone is also a very good one-versus-one defender – a capability that is a key ingredient to success in our league – and we’re excited about his future with our club.
The 31-year-old has played all across the back line for a number of clubs in England, including Bolton, Burnley, Derby County, , West Ham United, Preston North End, and Manchester City. He also spent a season in France’s Ligue 1 with Marseille.
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What do you think of this signing? Do you see Mears slotting into the starting lineup as a right back?
Share your thoughts below.
I hope they move Brad back and put Mears at center back. Anibaba, who he is effectively replacing played both, maybe that is what they envision.
I see Brad moving back and Tyrone playing and splitting time with Scott. Get an impact winger somehow and we are looking good again
I think—and hope—that it’s much too early to predict who will play along the Sounders’ back line. Meaning, if Mears is the only defender Seattle signs in the offseason, then we’re in big trouble regardless of who plays where.
(Don’t get me wrong: I’m happy they signed Mears. But he answers only one of about 5 big questions.)
It is way too early, but we gotta play with what we know. I almost see this as a Traore type signing. A hope at getting an experienced Euro backline guy to compete for a starting job. We need another 1 or 2 and maybe Zavaleta is the answer to Anibaba?