Less than a week after announcing the signing of someone know as the "Austrian David Beckham," the Sounders FC coaches decided to add a little South American flavor to the roster by signing Nelson "El León (The Lion)" Valdez.
The nicknames just keep on rollin' in.
Although he's been playing the game professionally for 15 years, Valdez is still just 31 years old, having started his career at a seasoned 15 years old with Paraguayan side Club Atlético Tembetary. Since that moment, El León has roared through both Bundesliga, La Liga and the rest of Europe on his way to five major titles and a whole lot of goals.
Now, with Seattle and former teammate Obafemi Martins welcoming Valdez with open arms (followed by bear hugs), let's take a second to get to know our new Designated Player with this brand spanking new installment of "Fast Facts."