Transfer Rumors: Sounders in Advanced Talks to Sign English Winger Ryan Kent
With Paul Arriola set to miss the remainder of the season and other attacking options unavailable for prolonged stretches due to injuries of their own, Seattle is back in the market for an attacking threat, and it seems they’ve found their target.
The club has been reported to be in advanced talks to bring 28-year-old Ryan Kent stateside. A natural winger, Kent is best suited to play on the left flank but is capable of playing on the right side or up the middle if the need arises. He last saw action in the Turkish league, playing for Süper Lig side Fenerbahçe before falling out of favor with manager José Mourinho. His contract with the side was terminated in October. Since then, the winger has turned down offers to return to Europe and Saudi Arabia.
Prior to his stint in Turkey, Kent was a critical part of Rangers FC in Scotland’s Premier League. The Liverpool Academy product spent five seasons with Rangers, appearing in 218 matches across all competitions, including the Scottish Leagues Cup, Europa League, and the UEFA Champions League. In his time in Scotland, Ryan tallied 33 goals and 56 assists on some of the biggest stages in European football. His performances earned him several individual honors, including being named PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year in 2018, two separate spots in the Scottish League’s Team of the Year, and a selection to the UEFA Europa League Team of the Season in 2022.
Away from the club, Kent has also made appearances for England’s developmental national teams. The winger has eight credited international appearances, two for the English U-18 side and six for the U-20s.
Kent would be a promising addition for a Seattle side that has struggled in the attacking third since losing Paul Arriola, Jordan Morris, and Pedro de la Vega to injury. Jesús Ferreira hasn’t yet found his footing with the club, looking disconnected and out of place on the pitch through nine club appearances. Paul Rothrock has shown flashes of the player he can be but has yet to prove he can be that player consistently, while Georgi Minoungou hasn’t gotten many chances to start on the right side. Kent could quickly find himself in a starting role should Seattle finalize a deal to bring him in.
Another component that makes Kent an interesting addition is his familiarity with large-scale competitions and corresponding opposition. In his time at Rangers FC, Kent experienced playing in the Champions League and competition not dissimilar from that of the upcoming Club World Cup the Sounders will partake in this July. The club will even face some of the same opponents Kent and Rangers clashed with during that tournament in Atlético Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain. His experience could be a significant factor in why Seattle chose to target him specifically.