Seattle Sounders announced they had signed 29-year-old winger Paul Arriola from FC Dallas in a deal involving up to $300,000 in conditional General Allocation Money (GAM) and Seattle's natural first-round pick in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft. Additionally, Dallas retains a portion of Arriola's salary for 2025. The player's arrival strengthens Seattle's attack at a very important time, with the team preparing for big challenges such as the FIFA Club World Cup and the Concacaf Champions Cup, both in 2025.
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Seattle’s general manager and sporting director, Craig Waibel, highlighted the significance of this acquisition: “We’re excited to welcome Paul to the organization. His experience at both club and international levels speaks for itself, and his versatility on the field adds an important dimension to our roster.”
Experience and immediate impact
Arriola comes to the Sounders off the back of a decent spell in MLS. In 181 games, he scored 38 goals and created 34 others for both D.C. United and FC Dallas. On the international stage, he has earned 50 appearances for the US Men's National Team, scoring 10 goals and earning two Concacaf Gold Cup titles (2017, 2021) often alongside his new Sounders teammates Jordan Morris, Cristian Roldan, and Jesús Ferreira.
Seattle’s head coach Brian Schmetzer emphasized Arriola’s value on and off the pitch: “I’m thrilled to welcome Paul to Seattle. His ability to play at a high level in multiple positions gives us great flexibility as a coaching staff. Beyond his skills and versatility, Paul’s experience will positively impact the locker room and contribute to the strong culture we’ve built at this club.”
Planning for 2025
The Seattle Sounders prepare for big tournaments with depth, quality across their roster, and big games. Like FC Dallas product Jesús Ferreira, also signed by Seattle, Arriola inked a long-term contract through 2027, with an option for 2028. These signings prove the club's commitment towards building a winning team that can stay competitive for titles while consolidating its status on the global stage.
Waibel reinforced this ambition: “This signing underscores our commitment to building a team with the depth and quality needed to compete at the highest level, and we’re excited to see the impact Paul will make here in Seattle.”
A challenging schedule
This upcoming season, 2025, is sure to be a challenge for the Sounders, as their Concacaf Champions Cup opener against Antigua GFC on February 19 and the MLS regular-season opener with Charlotte FC on February 22 are coming in just a few days. It is going to be an immediate test of the roster, but the team believes that the addition of some experience, such as Arriola and Ferreira, was a good decision.
This versatility, mentioned by Waibel and Schmetzer, will come in handy with the jammed fixture list as the team switches between international and domestic competitions without compromising performance. Arriola's experience across different leagues, including Liga MX, where he has played with Club Tijuana, and a loan stint at Swansea City in the EFL Championship in England, will surely come in handy in this demanding context.