Sounders Offseason Frenzy: João Paulo to Depart, Rothrock to Test Free Agency
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Seattle Sounders midfielder João Paulo dribbles the ball during an MLS match against NYCFC on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025 at Citi Field in New York City. (Caean Couto / Sounders FC Communications) [/caption]
The depth of the 2025 Sounders will end up being the story of the Leagues Cup-winning team.
Reserve striker Danny Musovski stepped up to lead the team in scoring while midfielders like João Paulo and Danny Leyva patched up injury issues and heavy rotations during a campaign that lasted over 50 games.
But as the offseason begins following Seattle's disappointing first-round MLS Cup Playoffs exit against Minnesota United, Seattle will need to be deliberate in who it chooses to keep. By all appearances, general manager Craig Waibel already has a good idea of what his team will look like as a busy few months get underway.
Club Option Decisions
Seattle came into the offseason with 13 club options to reckon with, parsing through a long list of depth pieces and key contributors to bring back.
Waibel wasted no time in securing homegrown star Obed Vargas by picking up his club option, while Musovski and Yeimar each had theirs picked up as well, according to Niko Moreno of Sounder at Heart.
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In a surprise move on Friday, winger Ryan Kent reportedly had his club option declined, as did João Paulo. João Paulo posted a goodbye to the team on social media, as the likelihood of the 34-year-old Sounder returning for a seventh season is as close to zero as possible at this point.
Waibel can agree to new terms with Kent, but the former Rangers man is a free agent at the moment.
Free Agents
Free agents Paul Rothrock and Stefan Frei don't have new deals yet, leaving the Seattle mainstays’ futures in question.
Moreno reports that the Sounders and Rothrock are still very far apart in their negotiations, as a deal will likely not be struck anytime soon. Rothrock is likely to test free agency at this rate, as the Seattle native winger may look to parlay a productive '25 campaign that featured nine goal contributions into a lucrative deal elsewhere.
If Seattle loses both Rothrock and Kent, considering Pedro de la Vega will be dealing with his fractured patella for a while, the Sounders will have real questions on the wings for early next season. That possibility would turn a strength of Seattle’s in 2025 into a real offseason target, adding an unexpected need for the Rave Green.
For the 39-year-old Frei, the competition with Andrew Thomas and the potential to end up as a backup next season may be pushing the club legend to ponder retirement. That said, no official news has been reported on that end as the veteran bides his time.
Defender Jon Bell played 21 games for Seattle in 2025 and proved himself to be a versatile piece in the backline when he wasn't nursing injuries, but he hasn’t come to a deal with Seattle yet.
Plenty Up in the Air
Now that the headlines are out of the way, this is how Seattle’s to-do list looks right now.
The remaining Sounders waiting on club options are as follows:
- D, Nouhou
- D, Kim Kee-hee
- D, Kalani Kossa-Rienzi
- D, Leo Burney
- D, Travian Sousa
- GK, Jacob Castro
- M, Paul Arriola
- F, Osaze De Rosario
The Sounders' free agents, not including those pending club options, are as follows:
- D, Jon Bell
- F, Paul Rothrock
- GK, Stefan Frei
Where Do the Sounders Go From Here?
The two biggest stories for the Sounders will be Rothrock's negotiations and the potential of a Vargas transfer during the January window.
For now, Waibel has his work cut out for him in just keeping the guys he has rights over.
The only remaining must-sign is Nouhou, as he was a beast at left back all season — Seattle's ability to win duels would plummet without him.
The rest of the players waiting on club options have their merits. Paul Arriola, who suffered a torn ACL early in the campaign, looked solid in the midfield when he was on the pitch, having spent just one season in Seattle. Defender Kalani Kossa-Rienzi and striker Osaze De Rosario each signed with the first team from Tacoma Defiance and established themselves as real contributors through a fantastic summer run. Both should be in line to return if all goes to plan, as the Sounders have been transparent about their belief in the youth coming from their MLS Next side.
If Frei was fully in on a potential farewell campaign, you'd figure he'd nip his contract in the bud and enter the competition with Thomas. Regardless of what is causing the hold-up, one can't rule out the possibility of a sudden retirement for the legendary keeper.
This is all taking place ahead of what should be a busy January, fraught with speculation about Vargas’ future and who Seattle can add to address the inevitable losses as the MLS postseason comes to a close by December 6.
