SEATTLE, WASH. – Seattle Sounders FC today announced that it has signed forward Fredy Montero. The Colombian returns to Seattle, where he played from 2009-2012, winning Sounders FC’s Golden Boot each of the club’s first three MLS seasons and accumulating 47 goals and 34 assists in regular-season play. After playing abroad in Colombia, Portugal and China, Montero has spent three of the last four seasons with Vancouver, where he tallied 26 goals and 14 assists for Whitecaps FC. Montero signs a one-year deal with club options in 2022 and 2023, and is set to join Sounders FC in preseason following the mandatory quarantine and testing protocols.
“Fredy is a prolific forward who’s proven himself in MLS and abroad, in addition to still holding a number of club records here,” said Sounders FC General Manager & President of Soccer Garth Lagerwey. “When good players return to Seattle, it speaks to the strong culture that we’ve built. I’m looking forward to bringing him into the group and seeing what he can contribute to our attack.”
Montero, 33, first joined Sounders FC from Colombia’s Deportivo Cali prior to the club’s inaugural MLS season in 2009. He went on to lead the Rave Green in scoring each year from 2009-2011 and recorded double-digit goal totals in each of his four seasons in Seattle. Montero’s 47 goals and 34 assists for Seattle in regular-season play are both tied for the most in club history with Clint Dempsey and Mauro Rosales, respectively, and his 60 goals across all competitions is a franchise record.
“I have a lot of fond memories of Fredy Montero in a Sounders jersey, and I’m pleased to welcome him back to the club,” said Sounders FC Head Coach Brian Schmetzer. “He has always been a dynamic attacker with a strong finishing touch. I’m always happy to have players that can score goals and am looking forward to getting him on the training pitch as our 2021 preparations ramp up.”
Following the 2012 season, Montero went on a pair of loan spells with Colombia’s Millonarios and Portugal’s Sporting CP, the latter of which he joined on a permanent transfer in January of 2014. Montero scored 27 goals across three seasons in Portugal before moving to Chinese club Tianjin Tigers FC, where he tallied nine goals in the 2016 campaign. After a 13-goal, six-assist season while on loan with Vancouver in 2017, Montero played one more season with Sporting CP in 2018 before returning to Whitecaps FC for the 2019 and 2020 seasons.
Montero’s signing brings Sounders FC’s current roster to 23 players. The club began its 2021 preseason this week at Starfire Sports, with the MLS regular season scheduled to open the weekend of April 17.
TRANSACTION: Sounders FC signs forward Fredy Montero to a one-year deal with club options in 2022 and 2023 on March 4, 2021.
Full Name: Fredy Montero
Position: Forward
Height: 5-9
Weight: 165
Hometown: Barranquilla, Colombia
Date of Birth: July 26, 1987 in Campo de la Cruz, Colombia
Nationality: Colombia
Acquired: Signed on March 4, 2021
Previous Clubs: Vancouver Whitecaps FC (2017, 2019-2020), Sporting CP (2013-2016, 2018-2019), Tianjin Tigers FC (2016), Millonarios (2013), Seattle Sounders FC (2009-2012), Deportivo Cali (2005-2010), Academia (2005), Atlético Huila (2006-2007)
