US Men's National Team forward Jordan Morris is on a hot streak for the Seattle Sounders. Morris has tallied a goal in each of the past four games. By notching his fourth goal of the season Morris has tied the single season record for goals by a rookie for the Sounders and an MLS record for consecutive weeks with a goal by a rookie. Not bad, huh?
The latest goal sealed a win for the Sounders against San Jose Earthquakes. Morris launched a long range shot from approximately 30 yards out that was able to beat San Jose keeper and fellow USMNT member David Bingham at the near post. Keep it up Jordan! Tim Howard is officially joining the MLS as part of the Colorado Rapids. The Rapids sign Howard as a Designated Player from Premier League side Everton. Howard will join the Rapids as part of the summer transfer window on July 4th.
Howard was recently demoted to back-up for his long time club Everton in favor of Joel Robles. Everton had been with Everton since 2006 and is returning to the MLS where he played for the MetroStars from 1998-2003. Howard will also be able to pair with another USMNT member in Jermaine Jones who the Rapids also recently signed. The deal will to Colorado has a transfer fee of $600,000 and lasts through the 2019 season. Welcome back to America Tim! Happy to have you and good luck with the Rapids. Philadelphia Union will be without their captain Maurice Edu for what could be up to three months due to a stress fracture in his lower left leg. Injuries have plauged Edu who missed the last two matches of 2015 regular season and much of the preseason due to sports hernia surgery.
Edu started his pro career with Toronto before moving on to the Scottish Premier League, Premier League and the Super Lig of Turkey. Edu returned to the MLS with the Union in 2014. Edu has 46 appearances for the US Men's National Team with the last coming in 2014. Rumors were that Jurgen Klinsmann was looking at bringing Edu back into training in January but due to Edu's injury called Tony Tchani of the Columbus Crew instead. Edu has featured in both the midfield and as a centerback for the Union since joining the team on loan from Stoke in 2014 and then signing full time. This season Union coach Jim Curtain claimed Edu would feature mainly as a No. 6 as his feature position. Jermaine Jones has finally found a home for the 2016 MLS season. Jones has joined the Colorado Rapids in a sign-and-trade deal with the New England Revolution. While the Rapids get Jones, the Revolution have received a first-round draft pick in the 2017 SuperDraft and general allocation money.
Jones joined the Revolution in August 2014 as a Designated Player after a blind draw for his services. Jones helped lead the team to the MLS Cup final in his first season. Prior to the MLS, Jones spent 14 season with various European clubs. Jones has been a mainstay for the US Men's National Team since switching his allegiance from Germany to the US in 2009. Jones was one of the stars for the USMNT in the 2014 World Cup including his memorable long distance goal against Portugal. Jones will join Marco Pappa and Zach Pfeffer as newcomers to the Rapids midfield, however Rapids fans will have to wait for his anticipated debut until after Jones serves a 6 game suspension for contact he made with a referee during last years post season. Reports are that Seattle Sounders star forward Obafemi Martins is headed to the Chinese Super League team Shanghai Shenhua. Martins is the latest of a list of players targeted by the China Super League who are throwing money everywhere to attempt to land star talent. Jackson Martinez and Brazilian Alex Texeira are two others leaving their respective clubs for the money in China.
Martins played three years for Seattle and scored 43 goals in 83 matches. Martins was a regular on the MLS Goal of the Week vote. His stand-out play for the Sounders earned him another look for the Nigerian National Team where he has 18 goals in 41 career appearances. The move could mean more playing time for young USMNT member and Sounder newcomer Jordan Morris. However it is disappointing to see such a talent and exciting player in Martins leave the MLS. Jordan Morris, the 21 year old former Stanford striker has made a decision Seattle Sounder's fans have been hoping he would make for years. Jordan Morris has signed an undisclosed contract with the Seattle Sounders in what is rumored to be the richest Homegrown deal in MLS history. Morris reportedly turned down a potential offer from Bundesliga team Werder Bremen after a 10-day trial.
Morris stared for the U-23 team in Olympic qualifying this past summer and scored his first goal for the US Soccer senior squad against rival Mexico in a 2-0 friendly. Much debate has been made if this was the right move for the hyped young US Men's Nation Team rising star. The US Soccer Federation is promoting Morris as the potential next star and face of a rising team. USMNT coach Jurgen Klinsmann has praised the move and said it was the correct decision. After watching several young American stars fade while playing in Europe (ex. Altidore's Sunderland debacle or Bradley's lack of playing time at Roma), it is still difficult to turn down the opportunity to play for a top-tier team in the Bundesliga. Attending college already set Morris back several years when compared to prospects from other countries around the world. As great as it is he recieved a college education and followed his hear, US collegiate soccer is nowhere near the level as professional leagues around the world. Guess fans will never know because US Soccer fans will get to watch Morris in the MLS next season for the Seattle Sounders.. Would Stanford to Werder Bremen been too much of a jump? |
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