Sounders acquire Jesús Ferreira from FC Dallas

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FRISCO, TX - JUNE 15: FC Dallas forward Jesus Ferreira (#10) dribbles up field during the MLS soccer game between FC Dallas and St. Louis City SC on June 15, 2024 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, TX. (Matthew Visinsky / Icon Sportswire / Getty Images)

Seattle Sounders FC acquired standout forward Jesús Ferreira from FC Dallas on Wednesday in exchange for midfielder Léo Chú and up to $2.3 million in general allocation money.

A member of the U.S. Men's National Team, Ferreira, 24, is a two-time MLS All-Star who has 53 goals and 34 assists in 163 career regular-season appearances for FC Dallas. Ferreira has agreed to a new three-year contract with Seattle, with club options in 2028 and 2029, and will not occupy one of the team's three Designated Player spots.

"We’re very excited to come to an agreement to bring Jesús to Seattle. He’s a player who not only brings a great deal of talent, but also complements the strengths of our existing roster," Sounders FC General Manager & Chief Soccer Officer Craig Waibel said in a press release. "Jesús’ versatility allows him to operate in multiple attacking roles, giving our coaches more tactical options in different game situations. His creativity and movement will enhance our ability to break down defenses, and we’re confident he’ll be a valuable contributor to the team’s success moving forward."

"I also want to extend our gratitude to Léo Chú for his contributions during his time with the club," continued Waibel. "Léo brought energy and passion to our team over the past four seasons, and we wish him well on his next career step in Dallas."

The Sounders will also send $1,000,000 in 2025 General Allocation Money (GAM), $500,000 of 2026 GAM and up to $800,000 in additional GAM if certain performance metrics are met, as well as a 2025 International Roster Slot to FC Dallas as part of the trade.

The addition of Ferreira adds some scoring potential to a team that struggled in that department last season. Despite reaching the Western Conference Finals, the Sounders had trouble scoring goals in 2024, ranking just 18th out of 29 teams with just 49 goals in 34 matches played.

Ferreira was a Homegrown Player with FC Dallas, signing with the club in 2016. In 2022, Ferreira had a stellar campaign, scoring 18 goals and six assists in 33 MLS matches that season. He backed that up with 12 more goals in 2023 before injuries limited his production last season.

Ferreira has also made 23 appearances with the U.S. Men's National Team, which included a spot on the 2022 World Cup roster in Qatar. He scored seven goals in five matches for the U.S. during the 2023 Gold Cup. He's been a teammate of Sounders forwards Jordan Morris and Cristian Roldan with the national team.

"I’m very pleased to welcome Jesús to Seattle. He’s a player with great technical ability and an eye for goal, which will make him a real asset in our attacking setup," head coach Brian Schmetzer said in a statement. "What excites me the most is his movements in the attacking half of the field and finishing ability inside the 18-yard-box. I’m looking forward to integrating him into our group and seeing how his qualities gel with the talented players we already have. I’m confident he’ll make a big impact for us going forward."

In a teleconference with reporters on Wednesday, Waibel also disclosed that the midfielders Albert Rusnák and João Paulo have each re-signed with the team. Rusnák's contract is a multi-year deal as one of the team's three Designated Players. He joins Morris and forward Pedro de la Vega as the team's three designated players.

Paulo's contract is a one-year deal.