Sounders FC 2 Thursday signed Gambian midfielder Amadou Sanyang, a 23-year-old with MLS experience, and former Sounders Academy 19-year-old midfielder Duncan McCormick. They become the first two players officially signed by S2 ahead of the team’s inaugural season in United Soccer Leagues play.
“Duncan and Amadou represent some of the key building blocks of S2,”said S2 GM Andrew Opatkiewicz. “Duncan is a young Academy product who’s a total team guy and has a lot of upside. Amadou has been one of the best midfielders in USL the last couple of years and will lead by example for the younger players.”
Sanyang logged 20 games for Toronto FC across the 2009 and 2010 seasons, and again in 2011 with the Sounders first team, where he made one appearance before being transferred to USL side Charleston Battery. Sanyang spent his previous two seasons with Charleston, where he made 53 appearances and scored five goals.
“Amadou was a guy I asked Andrew to get hold of first,” said S2 coach Ezra Hendrickson. “Because this is going to be mostly a younger team, I needed someone with experience. Winning is part of developing and I think Amadou is going to be a guy who can help us do that. He has been our captain so far this season and has been an extension of the coaching staff on the field.”
“It feels good to be one of the first signings to this team,” said Sanyang. “I have been in this organization before, and I feel like this is a good opportunity for me to come back and sharpen my game. Seattle is home for me now, so it’s really good to be back. I’m excited.”
Sanyang began his pro career in 2007 with Gambia’s GFA League First Division side, Real de Banjul. He helped the team to league championship and was named Midfielder of the Year.
McCormick started all 29 games for the Academy U-18 side in the 2013-2014 U.S. Soccer Development season. He scored seven goals, helping his team to a first-place finish in the Western Conference.
“I have watched Duncan in the Academy for the past three years, and he has the tenacity and bite in the midfield that you always look for in that position,” said Hendrickson. “He is good at running box-to-box and someone we decided we wanted to keep and develop further.”
McCormick also spent a year in Spain playing for Spanish Third Division side Colemenar Viejo.
S2 has a scrimmage at 1 p.m. against Gonzaga University at field three at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila. The club opens its inaugural USL campaign March 21 against defending USL Champion Sacramento Republic FC.
