SEATTLE, WASH.– Seattle Sounders FC today announced that João Paulo, Xavier Arreaga and Nouhou have all been granted their U.S. Green Cards, giving them permanent resident status in the United States, effective immediately. With resident status, the three players no longer occupy international slots on the club's roster.
Sounders FC now has four open international roster slots, with three current international players on the roster: Abdoulaye Cissoko, Léo Chú and Yeimar Gómez Andrade. Sounders FC recently traded an international roster spot to FC Dallas for $250,000 in 2022 General Allocation Money.
João Paulo, 30, has 50 regular-season appearances for Sounders FC since joining the club prior to the 2020 season. In 2021, he finished fifth league-wide in touches (2,463), while ranking first in tackles won (42), second in interceptions (36) and third in duels won (176) among players with at least 10 assists. The Brazilian was a finalist for the 2021 Landon Donovan MLS MVP Award after tallying three goals and 11 assists during the 2021 campaign. He was also named a starter for the 2021 MLS All-Star game and voted 2021 Sounders FC MVP.
Arreaga, 27, was part of a backline that allowed just 33 goals last season, tied for fewest in MLS. The Ecuadorian ranked fourth on the team with 37 interceptions in 2021, while winning over 60 percent of his duels. Ranking sixth on the team in minutes, Arreaga also tallied two goals last season, with both of those matches resulting in wins for the Rave Green. The defender became a regular for the Ecuador National Team, making nine appearances for La Tri during its 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, starting seven matches and adding one goal.
Nouhou, 24, is coming off a standout performance at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations where he was a regular starter at left back for Cameroon during its third-place tournament run. He had an especially notable performance in the semifinal match, tasked with guarding Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, holding the winger to zero shots on target. In 2021, Nouhou started 16 of 19 regular-season matches for the Rave Green, and was voted a starter in the MLS All-Star Game.
Following a scoreless draw last week in Honduras, Sounders FC continues its training this week in preparation for the second leg of its Concacaf Champions League Round of 16 matchup with F.C. Motagua on Thursday, February 24 at Lumen Field (7:30 p.m. PT / FS2, TUDN). The Rave Green then begin their 2022 MLS regular season campaign at home on Sunday, February 27 against Nashville SC (5:00 p.m. PT / FOX 13+, Prime Video, El Rey 1360 AM).
