Sounders FC today announced that it traded the rights to second-year forward Sean Okoli to the New England Revolution in exchange for the 33rd selection in Thursday’s 2015 MLS SuperDraft in Philadelphia. Seattle used the pick to draft Northwestern goalkeeper Tyler Miller, and Okoli’s inclusion in the deal completes yesterday’s transaction.
Okoli made three substitute appearances in his rookie season for Sounders FC, including the season-opener against Sporting Kansas City on March 8. He started and played 90 minutes in the Fourth Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, notching a late goal in a 5-0 win over PSA Elite. The 21-year-old was also selected to play in the Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game on August 4.
Despite a lack of consistent playing minutes, Okoli was twice called into U.S. Youth National Team Camp, joining the U-21s in April and the U-23s in October.
Okoli signed a Homegrown Contract with Seattle on January 8, 2013 after a three-year career at Wake Forest. A graduate of Todd Beamer High School in Federal Way and product of the Sounders FC Academy, Okoli also played two seasons with the Sounders FC U-23s.
Sounders FC declined Okoli’s option at the conclusion of the 2014 MLS season. He will join fellow Federal Way native Kellen Rowe in New England.
Miller was the second goalkeeper taken in Thursday’s SuperDraft. He recently concluded a decorated four-year career at Northwestern University, where he was a three-time All-Big 10 First Team selection and the 2014 Big 10 Goalkeeper of the Year.
