SEATTLE, WASH. – Sounders FC today selected two players in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas, adding forward Eythor Bjørgolfsson from Kentucky in the second round (38th overall) and defender Blake Bowen from San Diego State in the third round (59th overall). Earlier in the day, Seattle traded its first-round selection (ninth overall) to St. Louis City SC in exchange for $175,000 in 2023 General Allocation Money (GAM) and St. Louis’ natural third-round selection (59th overall), which was used to pick Bowen. Both players are currently unsigned to the First Team.
“We are excited to have selected Eythor and Blake in this year’s SuperDraft,” said General Manager & Chief Soccer Officer Craig Waibel. “Both players showed great talent in their collegiate careers that impressed us, and we are eager to see how they help contribute to this organization next season.”
Bjørgolfsson, 22, scored 24 goals over four successful seasons at Kentucky, including 10 goals and two assists during his senior season where he was a MAC Hermann Tophy semifinalist, in addition to earning Sun Belt Conference First Team, United Soccer Coaches First Team All American and United Soccer Coaches First Team All Southeast Region honors. The Norwegian striker was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team in 2019 after leading the Wildcats with four game-winning goals. As a junior in 2021, he scored the game-winning golden goal in the 93rd minute against Florida Atlantic to win Kentucky’s second-ever Conference USA Tournament title, earning Conference USA Tournament Offensive MVP and All-Tournament Team honors.
Bowen, 22, recorded nine goals and five assists in 56 appearances (47 starts) over four seasons at San Diego State. He scored three goals (all game-winning strikes) and tallied two assists after starting all 16 of his appearances in his senior year, earning All-Pac-12 Second Team honors as well as being named to the United Soccer Coaches Third Team All Far West Region. He was also an All-Pac-12 honorable mention as a sophomore and junior, leading the Aztecs with three goals in 2021 and being one of two SDSU players to start all 10 games during the pandemic-shortened 2020-2021 season. Prior to SDSU, Bowen recorded 34 goals and 21 assists over his career at San Clemente High School, earning Gatorade Player of the Year honors and leading his team to the CIF South Section championship.
Sounders FC is now in the midst of the offseason with its sights set on the 2023 campaign, which begins with the FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco, taking place from February 1-11. Seattle opens its MLS season against the Colorado Rapids on Sunday, February 26 on the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field (5:00 p.m. PT / Apple TV, FS1).
TRANSACTIONS: Sounders FC traded its first-round pick (ninth overall) in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft to St. Louis City SC for $175,000 in 2023 General Allocation Money (GAM) and St. Louis’s natural third-round pick (59th overall). Seattle selects Kentucky forward Eythor Bjørgolfsson with the 38th overall pick in the second round and San Diego State defender Blake Bowen with the 59th overall pick in the third round in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft (both currently unsigned to the First Team roster).
Name: Eythor Bjørgolfsson
Position: Forward
Pronunciation: EYE-tor B-your-golf-son
Height: 6-3
Weight: 195
Age: 22
Born: August 25, 2000
Hometown: Jessheim, Norway
Citizenship: Norway
College: Kentucky
Acquired: Drafted 38th overall in the second round of the 2023 MLS SuperDraft on December 21, 2022
Name: Blake Bowen
Position: Defender
Height: 5-8
Weight: 140
Age: 22
Born: November 4, 2000
Hometown: San Clemente, California
Citizenship: USA
College: San Diego State
Acquired: Drafted 59th overall in the third round of the 2023 MLS SuperDraft on December 21, 2022
