SEATTLE, WASH. – Seattle Sounders FC 2 today announced that it has signed midfielder Ray Serrano and defender Ibrahim Usman. Serrano becomes the latest Sounders FC Academy player to sign directly with S2, joining Sam Rogers, Azriel Gonzalez and Shandon Hopeau. Usman, an 18-year-old left back and Nigerian U-20 National Team pool player, joins Sounders FC’s USL side pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate (ITC).
Serrano, 15, has 17 goals and six assists in 17 games for the U-17s this season, including a hat trick against Barca Academy AZ and a pair of assists against Portland. The Sounders FC U-17 squad currently sits atop the USSDA Northwest Division with a 15-1-2 record this season.
“Ray has been with the Academy for a couple of years and now he is a signing for the long-term,” said Sounders FC Director of Player Development Marc Nicholls. “He is a creative, dynamic player with a fierce desire to work and compete. Our Academy staff rates him very highly, and a big part of that is his first-rate character and appetite to learn and improve. Credit must also be shared with our club partner, Spokane Sounders, for his development and identification.”
Usman, 18, comes to Seattle from Nigerian club Eco FC. The speedy, attacking-minded left back is also part of the Nigerian U-20 National Team pool currently preparing for the U-20 African Cup of Nations in 2019.
“Ibrahim comes with a strong reputation and fits the positional profile and organizational need of a left fullback,” said Nicholls. “We look forward to him settling in as we launch our preseason.”
With the two signings today, S2 currently has the following 12 players under contract ahead of the 2018 season: defenders Rodrigue Ele, Nick Hinds, Sam Rogers, Denso Ulysse and Usman, midfielders Azriel Gonzalez, Francisco Narbon, Ray Saari and Serrano, and forwards Felix Chenkam, Shandon Hopeau and David Olsen.
“I’m excited to see our roster take shape as we approach the start of the 2018 season,” said S2 Head Coach John Hutchinson. “Ray and Ibrahim are both promising young players and bring different qualities to the club. I look forward to seeing how they integrate with the other guys on the squad.”
The United Soccer League last month unveiled the complete 2018 Sounders FC 2 regular season schedule, featuring 17 home matches at Cheney Stadium during the club's first campaign in Tacoma. The 34-game slate begins on Friday, March 16 with a home match against Cascadia rival Portland Timbers 2. For ticket information on Sounders FC 2, please contact the We R Tacoma front office at (253) 752-7707 or visit S2Tacoma.com. The most up-to-date news and notes about S2 leading up to the 2018 season can be found by following the club on Twitter (@SoundersFC2) and liking the team on Facebook.
TRANSACTIONS: Seattle Sounders FC 2 signs midfielder Ray Serrano and defender Ibrahim Usman on February 14, 2018.
Name: Ray Serrano
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-7
Weight: 125
Born: May 9, 2002 in Moses Lake, Washington
Hometown: Moses Lake, Washington
Citizenship: United States
Acquired: Signed to S2’s roster on February 14, 2018
Name: Ibrahim Usman
Position: Defender
Height: 6-0
Weight: 165
Born: July 23, 1999 in Lagos, Nigeria
Hometown: Lagos, Nigeria
Citizenship: Nigeria
Acquired: Signed to S2’s roster on February 14, 2018
S2’s current roster is listed below by positional breakdown.
CURRENT SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC 2 ROSTER
Defenders (5): Rodrigue Ele, Nick Hinds, Sam Rogers, Denso Ulysse, Ibrahim Usman
Midfielders (4): Azriel Gonzalez, Francisco Narbon, Ray Saari, Ray Serrano
Forwards (3): Felix Chenkam, Shandon Hopeau, David Olsen
