Midfielder Danny Leyva left home at 14 to train in the Sounders' academy and last fall, at 15, became the youngest player to sign with their professional United Soccer League club in Tacoma. Last week, three months shy of his 16th birthday, he played for the Sounders against Club Nacional at CenturyLink Field.
It took a leap of faith for Danny Leyva’s parents to allow him to become the youngest professional player the Sounders have ever signed within their second-tier ranks.
At age 15, Leyva made a surprise preseason appearance at CenturyLink Field last week for the Sounders against Club Nacional of Uruguay with more than 30,000 people looking on.