The Sounders Monday re-acquired 30-year-old Lamar Neagle, a midfielder and forward, from D.C. United in exchange for a 2018 fourth-round MLS SuperDraft selection. This will be the Federal Way native’s fourth stint with the franchise. He played with Seattle in 2009, 2011 and 2013-2015.
Neagle has 38 goals and 25 assists in 192 MLS appearances.
“We are very pleased to welcome Lamar back to Seattle as we hit the home stretch of the 2017 season,” said Sounders GM Garth Lagerwey. “He’s a good, veteran player with an extensive history with our club, and he gives us another solid option in the attack.”
Neagle is fourth in Sounders history with 26 goals, trailing Fredy Montero, Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins. He has made 116 MLS appearances with the club and scored a career-high nine goals and nine assists in Seattle’s 2014 Supporters’ Shield-winning campaign.
“Lamar has been a very good player for us in the past and has contributed a lot to this club, on and off the field,” said coach Brian Schmetzer. “On top of that, he is a great character guy with a long-standing connection to this community. We’re very pleased to bring him home.”
Following a standout college career at UNLV, Neagle went pro with the Sounders in 2009 before joining the Charleston Battery of the USL second division in 2010. After a short stint with Norwegian club IFK Mariehamn, he re-joined Seattle in 2011, starting nine of his 23 appearances and scoring five goals before being traded to the Montreal Impact in 2012.
Neagle re-joined Seattle in 2013 before moving on to D.C. United prior to the 2016 campaign. In two seasons with United, Neagle had 10 goals and six assists in 53 regular-season appearances.
“Lamar is a player who has produced for us in the past and can contribute at multiple positions,” said sporting director Chris Henderson. “It’s always nice to welcome back a former Sounder, especially a local product that has such a positive history with the club.”
Neagle was a three-year starter for Federal Way’s Thomas Jefferson High School. He led the team to state championship in 2005, playing for former Sounders FC academy director and current Sounders U-23 coach Darren Sawatzky.
After a 4-0 road win over Minnesota United Saturday, the Sounders return to the Clink at 1 p.m. Saturday to face Western Conference-leading Sporting Kansas City.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="2234477 https://sportspressnw.wpengine.com/?p=2234477">1 Comment
The Sounders just can’t quit Neagle.
That said, reacquiring Neagle plus adding Victor Rodriguez certainly shores up the attacking depth for the team.