The Seattle Sounders have strengthened their attacking options by acquiring English winger Ryan Kent for the remainder of the 2025 MLS season with a club option for 2026. Kent, 28, joins the Sounders after his contract with Turkish club Fenerbahçe was mutually terminated in October 2024.
Seattle Sounders FC general manager Craig Waibel expressed enthusiasm about the signing, highlighting Kent's qualities: "We're thrilled to welcome Ryan Kent to Seattle and add him to our existing group this season. Ryan is a dynamic winger with top-level experience who brings pace, creativity, and a dangerous attacking threat."
Sounders head coach Schmetzer added his own positive assessment: "Ryan is a very good player with an impressive pedigree, and we're excited to bring him into our team. He's got real quality on the ball, is effective at taking players on and stretches opposing backlines."
Kent emerged from Liverpool's academy in 2017 but failed to establish himself at the Premier League club. After a challenging loan spell at Bundesliga side Freiburg, Kent found his footing at Scottish giants Rangers, where he registered 33 goals and 56 assists in 218 appearances across all competitions.
According to Statbet analysis, Kent's move represents a significant opportunity for revival after his career stalled in Turkey, where tactical fit issues limited his impact.
Kent's time at Fenerbahçe proved disappointing, with just one goal and two assists in 19 appearances. Transfermarkt Area Manager Türkiye Lara Karacan explained the situation: "Kent was signed before Fenerbahçe had a coach appointed. Once İsmail Kartal took over, it quickly turned out that Kent didn't fit his tactics. The same was true under Jose Mourinho."
The Turkish league's foreign player limitations ultimately forced Fenerbahçe to cut Kent from their squad. Now in Seattle, the English winger aims to revitalize his career in Major League Soccer, bringing his attacking talents to the American soccer landscape as the Sounders continue their 2025 campaign.
