SEATTLE, WASH. – Sounders FC today announced that it has signed defender Nathan to a contract for the 2024 season with a club option for 2025. Nathan comes to Seattle after three seasons with the San Jose Earthquakes, starting 46 matches in 2021-2022 before sitting out 2023 with a torn ACL. The Brazilian international also made over 100 appearances in all competitions in Switzerland and Brazil prior to joining the Earthquakes.
“We’re happy to sign an accomplished veteran like Nathan to our roster,” said Sounders FC General Manager and Chief Soccer Officer Craig Waibel. “On top of adding another talented player to our standout defensive group, we believe his experience both domestically and abroad is an asset to our team.”
Nathan, 28, joins Seattle after three seasons with the San Jose Earthquakes, where he started all 46 of his appearances in 2021-2022, scoring five goals before missing the entirety of the 2023 season with a right ACL tear. Prior to his time in MLS, Nathan played for FC Zürich of Switzerland’s Super League, the highest division of Swiss soccer, making 63 appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring three goals and adding one assist. Before his time with Zürich, Nathan also played with Swiss sides Grasshoppers and Servette FC while on loan from Palmeiras in Brazil, scoring a combined four goals in 39 appearances across all competitions.
“Adding a defender of Nathan’s pedigree can only improve what I believe is one of the strongest position groups in MLS,” said Sounders FC Head Coach Brian Schmetzer. “We showed last year that we are one of the league’s top defenses, and Nathan’s signing will give us even more versatility as we navigate our long season.”
Nathan played for Palmeiras from 2014-2017, including loans to Criciúma EC in 2016 and Chapecoense AF in 2017. He made his professional debut for Palmeiras on September 13, 2014, against Fluminense, appearing in the starting lineup and playing all 90 minutes. He went on to make 16 appearances in all competitions that season for Palmerias, winning the Copa do Brazil in 2015. Nathan then was loaned Criciúma in 2016, making 17 appearances and scoring two goals before being loaned to Chapeconese in 2017, where he scored one goal.
Sounders FC finished the 2023 regular season second in the Western Conference with 53 points (14-9-11), advancing to the Western Conference Semifinals before falling 1-0 to LAFC. The club is currently in the middle of preseason preparations for the 2024 season, which kicks off against LAFC on Saturday, February 24 at BMO Stadium (1:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV, FOX, iHeartMedia Seattle, El Rey 1360 AM).
TRANSACTION: Sounders FC signs defender Nathan to a one-year contract with a team option for 2025 on January 11, 2024.
Name: Nathan
Position: Defender
Height: 6-3
Weight: 183
Born: May 13, 1995, in São Paulo, Brazil
Hometown: São Paulo, Brazil
Citizenship: Brazil
Acquired: Sounders FC signs defender Nathan to a contract for the 2024 season with a club option for 2025 on January 11, 2024.
Previous Clubs: San Jose Earthquakes (2021-2023), FC Zürich (2019-2021), Grasshoppers (2018-2019, on loan from Palmerias), Servette FC (2017-2018, on loan from Palmerias), Chapeconese AF (2017, on loan from Palmerias), Criciúma EC (2016, on loan from Palmerias), Palmeiras (2014-2017)
