ICYMI: Yesterday, our SoundersFC signed M sota_kitahara to a first team contract from the tacdefiance ! The former Academy and Tacoma Defiance midfielder signs a two-year deal with club options in 2025 and 2026; Kitahara becomes 20th Homegrown Player in Sounders FC history Kitahara, 19, joined the Sounders Discovery Program in 2014 before moving to the Academy, making 14 appearances in his first year at the U-16 level. After his time with the Academy, he signed with Tacoma Defiance in December 2020, making 28 appearances with the club from 2021-2022, scoring one goal. He spent a portion of the 2021 season on loan with FC Pinzgau Saalfelden of Austria’s third tier of professional soccer. Photo by marriahsmagicalmoments #Sounders #VamosSounders #MLS2022 #BoomBoomClap #EBFG #MLS #SeattleSounders #SoundersMatchday #SotaKitahara