The Seattle Sounders boated the best defense in Major League Soccer in 2024, conceding just 35 times in 34 matches. The entire back line returns, including MLS Best XI center back Yeimar and his MLS Defender of the Year Finalist running mate Jackson Ragen.
But that didn’t stop the Sounders from reaching back into a familiar well to bring in reinforcements. Seattle welcomed the return of center back Kim Kee-hee, who rejoined the team last week after his successful two-year stint with the club in 2018-19.
“Kim adds a lot for us in terms of depth in the position, but also leadership,” said Sounders General Manager & Chief Soccer Officer Craig Waibel. “[Fellow offseason acquisition] Paul Arriola was a captain of a team. Kim was a captain of a team. We’re bringing leadership in, and we’re also bringing effective players in.”
Kim logged over 5,000 minutes and nearly 60 matches during his previous time in Seattle including helping the Sounders clinch their second MLS Cup title in 2019. Now 35, the former South Korea international brings a wealth of experience and composure at what is already one of the league’s best defensive units.
“When I left, I always thought that I would come back someday,” Kim said through a translator after Friday’s training session. “I didn’t have any hesitations coming back to Seattle when I got the offer…When I was here, I loved the Sounders’ system and how it’s run. Also, the lifestyle of the United States and the Seattle area. My family loved it too.”
The Sounders have evolved tremendously in the half-decade since Kim’s initial departure. They became the first MLS club to win the modern iteration of the Concacaf Champions League and opened the doors to their new state-of-the-art Providence Swedish Performance Center & Clubhouse, a facility that wowed Kim upon his return.
“He looks good,” Waibel said of Kim. “We’re going to take our time ramping him up because he’s got to get back into a practice, daily-workout level with this group that’s pretty intense. The workloads are heavy, and these guys love to train. We’re excited. He’s excited to be here. He walked into this building and was amazed, which is a great thing to have a player return and understand this has grown since they left.”
Kim estimates he’s a few weeks out from being match-fit, as it’s been a couple months since his season in Korea ended. But once he’s ready to go, the Sounders are getting a player who was a Korean First Division Best XI player with Ulsan Hyundai a year ago.
Fixtures are coming fast — the Sounders could play as many as 10 matches in 40 days to begin the season — so rotation will be paramount, and Kim will inevitably play an integral role in that. The Sounders just defeated Guatemala’s Antigua GFC 3-1 on Wednesday in their first leg of the First Round of the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup before tying Charlotte FC 2-2 in the club's home opener on Saturday night.
“We had a good team before, but the whole MLS level now and the Sounders, every aspect went up,” said Kim. “I’m not as young as before, but my experience will definitely contribute.”
