The Seattle Sounders announced Tuesday that defender Tyrone Mears has received his U.S. Green Card, giving the team an additional international roster spot as they continue to shop for reinforcements to break free from a frustrating start to the season.
Mears, 33, has 35 appearances for Sounders FC since joining the club prior to the 2015 season. The English veteran led the organization with 33 games played – all starts – last season, recording one goal and three assists, earning spots on the FOX Soccer and Goal.com MLS best XI lists.
There are now seven players that occupy international roster slots on Seattle’s active roster: Oalex Anderson, Oniel Fisher, Erik Friberg, Andreas Ivanschitz, Joevin Jones, Román Torres and Nelson Valdez. Earlier this month, Seattle acquired another international roster slot and Targeted Allocation Money from Toronto FC in exchange for General Allocation funds.
Sounders GM and President of Soccer Garth Lagerwey has said on numerous occasions in recent weeks that the team is still in the market for acquiring a Designated Player to help replace Obafemi Martins, as as well an additional player to strengthen the roster after an 0-3 start to the new MLS season.
“The idea is to add more, good players,” Lagerwey said earlier this month. “With every crisis comes an opportunity. Nobody wanted to lose one of our best players the week before the season, but it’s a real opportunity to to re-balance our team and to add to the amount of talent on our team, long-term.”
