Sounders FC announced on March 18 that it has signed Tacoma Defiance defender Antino Lopez to a First Team contract for the 2026 season, with club options extending through June 2027 and for the 2027-2028 season. Lopez, who was originally drafted by Seattle in the 2024 Major League Soccer SuperDraft out of Duke University, has made 41 appearances for Tacoma Defiance and five for Sounders FC under Short-Term Agreements.
The signing highlights the club’s ongoing commitment to developing talent from within its system. Lopez is the thirteenth player on Sounders FC’s current First Team roster who has come up through Tacoma Defiance, and the eighth with experience in the Sounders FC Academy.
“We’re excited to sign Antino to the roster after the strong performances he’s put together with Tacoma Defiance and in his call-ups to the First Team,” said Sounders FC General Manager & Chief Soccer Officer Craig Waibel. “Tino has continued to grow in our system and showed impressive consistency and quality to earn this next step. His progression is another example of the player development pathway we’ve built at this club, where young players are provided with the best staff in the country to achieve their best. We are now looking forward to watching the First Team staff assist in the next phase of growth and development within the club.”
Lopez, age 23, recently completed a season where he made 15 appearances (10 starts) for Tacoma Defiance while completing 87 percent of his passes. He captained his squad against Portland Timbers in last year’s Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 and helped Defiance reach the Western Conference Semifinals in 2024.
“Antino has earned this contract by stepping up in the moments he’s been called upon,” said Sounders FC Head Coach Brian Schmetzer. “Whether it was with Tacoma Defiance or in opportunities with our group, he’s shown the work rate and quality that we value as a staff. He’s continued to grow within our system and earn the trust of his teammates and coaches. We’re excited to see how he’ll continue to develop and help the team moving forward.”
Seattle will host Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Wednesday, March 18 at ONE Spokane Stadium for its Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 second leg before returning to league play against Minnesota United FC on Sunday, March 22.
