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# Sounders Sign Peter Kingston to First-Team Deal
- URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/seattle-sounders-sign-peter-kingston-first-team-deal/
- Published: 2026-04-03T19:42:22.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-08T06:15:19.000Z
- Author: Qasim Ali
- Tags: News, Sounders, Peter Kingston

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1d/f2/1df2f77b-83dd-4bc0-a6d2-6d1bb5df89a3/content/images/2026/10/55150202045_2ab1909f0a_k-format-original-1.jpg)

The Seattle Sounders signed Tacoma Defiance midfielder Peter Kingston to a contract through the end of the season, with options for the 2027 and 2027-28 seasons, on Friday morning.

The move comes after weeks of lobbying from head coach Brian Schmetzer, injuries and transfers of key depth pieces.

Kingston, who played for the Sounders academy growing up, [has had a unique journey to the first team](https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/home/peter-kingston-sounders-son-seattle-soccer-system). 

The 24-year-old from Kirkland played for both Seattle University and the University of Washington, spending his summers with USL League Two side Ballard FC. After a strong finish to his career at UW and a superstar career with Ballard culminating in a championship, Kingston went undrafted.

He signed with the Tacoma Defiance in 2025, earning a few call-ups to the Sounders and just 11 minutes on the pitch. In this young 2026 season, where Seattle has started 3-1-0 with a trip to the Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinals booked, Kingston has played a much larger role.

He was subbed on in both legs of Seattle's Concacaf Round of 16 win over Vancouver and made [his first MLS start against San Jose](https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/home/seattle-sounders-heavily-rotated-shut-down-san-jose), notching 85 minutes in the contest. The performance that arguably put Kingston over the top was a two-assist masterclass late in [the second leg vs. Vancouver](https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/home/seattle-sounders-whitecaps-concacaf-recap-3-18-26) to give Seattle a 2-1 win.

"(Kingston) is another strong example of the development pathway we've built at this club," GM Craig Waibel said in a team press release.

Indeed, Kingston isn’t the first Defiance player to be rewarded in this fashion in 2026\. Center back Antino Lopez signed a deal with the team earlier this season after spending three years with the Defiance before playing quality minutes in relief of a depleted backline this season.

"Peter has earned this contract through the work he's put in every day," Schmetzer said in the same release. "He belongs at this level."

With the recent transfer of Georgi Minoungou to Colorado and Charlotte loanee Nikola Petkovic tearing his right ACL during training last weekend, Seattle could use a player with Kingston's versatile skillset.

At Ballard, Kingston compiled 22 assists, including a free-kick goal that won the team a championship. On the defensive side, teammate Paul Rothrock raved about how Kingston fits in.

“He also comes hard to tackle,” Rothrock said. “I think that's a good thing as a Sounder.”