The Sounders Tuesday acquired veteran goalkeeper Troy Perkins, who became available following the 2014 MLS Re-Entry Draft. The 33-year-old Perkins recorded five shutouts in 21 appearances last season for the Montreal Impact and ranks third among active MLS keepers with 213 appearances from his rookie season of 2004.
Perkins also ranks 10th all-time in league history with 74 wins and ninth with 712 saves and 53 shutouts. The Ohio native earned goalkeeper of the year, MLS All-Star and Best XI honors in 2006 after recording a 15-6-9 record with eight clean sheets and a 1.13 goals against average.
“Troy is an accomplished player that is well-known throughout our league,” said Sounders coach Sigi Schmid. “He has been one of the most consistent performers at the goalkeeper position during his MLS career, and he brings experience to our roster. We look forward to welcoming him in Seattle shortly.”
After a collegiate career at the University of South Florida and University of Evansville, Perkins joined D.C. United in 2004 as an undrafted rookie, where he spent four seasons. He helped D.C. United win the 2007 Supporters’ Shield. He then joined Norwegian First Division side Vålerenga IF, where he made 53 appearances from 2008-10.
Perkins returned to MLS in 2010, spending one season with D.C. before being traded to the expansion Portland Timbers prior to the 2011 season. He manned the nets for the better part of Portland’s first two MLS campaigns, making 51 appearance and a career-high nine shutouts in 2011.
Perkins went to the Impact in a trade late in 2012 and allowed eight goals over the final nine matches with four clean sheets. In 2013, he set career highs with 33 appearances and 2,970 minutes, accumulating a 14-12-7 record and a league-leading 109 saves as the Impact qualified for the MLS Cup playoffs for the first time.
“It’s a huge honor to be asked to join a club with the kind of prestige and class that Sounders FC represents,” said Perkins. “As an opponent, playing in Seattle was always a special thing and it will be a lot of fun being on the other side of it. The fan base there is really top-notch and atop the league.”
Perkins has been capped seven times for the U.S. Men’s National Team, accumulating a 5-2-0 record in 2009 and 2010. He made five appearances in the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup, helping the USA to a second-place finish.
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A nice pickup. Perkins has a lot of experience who can either challenge Frei or be a solid backup. Neither were anywhere near the top of the MLS goalie tables in saves percentage last season, however, and that’s a pretty important category.