Seattle Sounders re-sign club legend Stefan Frei to two-year contract

Seattle Sounders have re-signed goalkeeper and club legend Stefan Frei to a two-year contract through the 2025 Major League Soccer season.

Frei's contract was set to expire at the end of December, but no he's going nowhere and has committed the next two seasons to playing for the Western Conference side in between the sticks.

Since joining Seattle in 2014 from Toronto FC, Frei has consistently been one of the best goalkeepers in all of MLS and became a club legend in the eyes of Sounders fans. The 37-year-old has made 353 league appearances for Seattle, the most in club history, and has kept 86 clean sheets to go along with 889 in that span.

Despite setting a new career-high for clean sheets in 2023 with 14 (most in MLS) and Seattle finishing in second place in the Western Conference table, Frei wasn't named a finalist for the Goalkeeper of the Year award.

"We are pleased to announce that Stefan Frei will continue to play in a Sounders uniform," Seattle general manager & chief soccer officer Craig Waibel said in a release. "Already one of the most accomplished goalkeepers in league history, he continues to perform at a high level year after year. We look forward to celebrating more big moments with him in goal."

Even with a new head coach in Brian Schmetzer in 2016, Frei remained the first-choice goalkeeper at Lumen Field - a telling sign of an irreplaceable starting goalkeeper. Frei played a key part in Seattle's 2022 Concacaf Champions League victory, their two MLS Cups in 2016 and 2019 as well as their US Open Cup and Supporters' Shield wins in 2014.

"I am ecstatic to have Stef return for another extension to his already hugely successful career with Seattle Sounders FC," said Schmetzer. "On top of being a trusted leader of this group, he showed once again this year that he is one of the top goalkeepers in MLS. A club legend in every sense of the word, his impact on this organization over the years - on and off the field - has been immeasurable."

The Sounders and Frei will now build toward 2024 to continue to add to their impressive trophy cabinet.

"I'm excited to continue my career here with the Seattle Sounders," said Frei.

"From my first taste of Open Cup in 2014 to making history winning the Champions League in 2022, my time here has been filled with nothing but good memories," Frei said. "However, as a wise man once said, we're not done yet. I look forward to more opportunities to add to our trophy cabinet and keep writing history. I cannot wait for our next season to start. Go Sounders!"

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