Nelson Haedo Valdez becomes the first Paraguayan international to sign for an MLS club as he joins the Seattle Sounders from German side Eintracht Frankfurt, and is being added to Sounders roster as a Designated Player. He becomes the second significant signing of the week, joining Austrian international Andreas Ivanschitz. As part of the deal, the Sounders used Targeted Allocation Money to "buy down" Osvaldo Alonso's salary-cap hit.
Paraguayan Lion
The 31-year-old arrived in Seattle via Germany with his agent and brother in law, Timmy Mescheder and arrived at SeaTac International Airport where he met Sounders GM Garth Lagerwey.
Valdez joins fellow Designated Players Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins on Seattle's frontline, with the Paraguayan rejoining Martins following their time together at Russian side Rubin Kazan. Valdez gives the Sounders the kind of player they said they've been looking for: a striker that can play wide and score goals when needed.
"It's exciting to add a player of Nelson's pedigree. His addition allows us to vary our attack and makes us even more potent upfront," Lagerwey stated. "It can't be overstated how important a player with this type of experience can be for our team. Nelson has played in some of the world's top competitions, including two FIFA World Cups and two Copa America tournaments, and he's a welcome addition to our roster."
European adventures
This will be Valdez's 10th club in his career as he enjoyed spells in Germany, Spain, Russia, UAE and Greece before coming here in the United States. He is also a two time FIFA World Cup and Copa America veteran. He recently scored a wonderful goal against Argentina in the first group stage match two months ago in Chile in a 2-2 draw and will now be looking to spearhead Paraguay into the World Cup in 2018, after failing to make the one in Brazil last summer.