A key component of the Seattle Sounders midfield will be back in 2021, securing the team’s spine for at least the next couple seasons. The Sounders officially completed João Paulo’s transfer from Brazilian club Botafogo on Jan. 21, paying a reported fee of about $1 million and signing him through the 2023 season. João Paulo was on loan last year, for which the Sounders paid a reported fee of about $1.2 million.
The Sounders now have João Paulo, Nicolas Lodeiro, Raul Ruidiaz, Cristian Roldan, Stefan Frei and Yeimar Gomez Andrade all signed through at least 2022.