Seattle Sounders FC sign first player

By Sports Network

The Seattle Sounders FC signed French forward Sebastien Le Toux to a multi-year contract, the team announced. Le Toux is the first player to sign with the Major League Soccer club, which will begin play in 2009.

"Sebastien is an outstanding young soccer player with loads of upside," Sounders General Manager Adrian Hanauer said. "He has tremendous physical capacity, he is very good technically and tactically, and has the potential to be a very effective MLS player. Sebastien is also a great individual, and has the kind of character that our fans will be proud of."

Le Toux is currently on loan to United Soccer Leagues First Division side Seattle Sounders and will officially be added to the Sounders FC roster when MLS' official signing period opens following the 2008 season.

In '07, his rookie season with the Sounders, Le Toux led the team in scoring with 22 points and was named the USL First Division MVP. He also scored five goals in the U.S. Open Cup, leading Seattle to the semifinals with two wins over MLS teams along the way.

Le Toux has also played for F.C. Lorient in the French League 2 and Stade Renais FC in the French First Division in his career.

news.mcclatchy.com headlines

• Who'd pick up more swing states — Obama or Clinton?
• Doughnuts and coffee come to the Green Zone in Baghdad
• McCain calls Obama 'reckless' for willingness to talk to Iran
• Bin Laden's driver wins another trial delay
• Former Justice lawyer pulls name for election post