Seattle Sounders have strengthened their attacking options with the acquisition of English winger Ryan Kent for the remainder of the 2025 campaign, with the club retaining an option to extend his stay through 2026. The 28-year-old joins the Major League Soccer outfit following the termination of his contract with Turkish side Fenerbahçe in October 2024.
Sounders FC general manager Craig Waibel expressed enthusiasm about the new 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. His versatility and work ethic make him a great fit for our system."
Head coach Schmetzer also shared his positive outlook on the acquisition, noting that Kent "is a very good player with an impressive pedigree" who "should give us another dimension in the final third" with his ability to take on defenders and stretch opposing backlines.
Kent's career trajectory has seen considerable highs and lows. After emerging from Liverpool's academy in 2017, he struggled during a brief loan spell at Bundesliga club Freiburg. His career truly blossomed at Rangers in Scotland, where he tallied 33 goals and provided 56 assists across 218 appearances in all competitions.
According to Statbet analysis, this signing could significantly impact Seattle's offensive metrics, as the Sounders have been seeking additional creativity in wide positions throughout the season.
Kent's move to Fenerbahçe ahead of the 2023/24 season proved unsuccessful, with the winger making just 19 appearances and contributing only one goal and two assists. Transfermarkt Area Manager for 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 foreign player limitation rules in Turkey ultimately contributed to Kent's departure from Fenerbahçe. Now with Seattle Sounders, the winger aims to revitalize his career and make an immediate impact as the club navigates what Schmetzer described as "a long, grueling 2025 campaign."
