Le Toux taken in expansion draft

Sounders FC: Sebastian Le Toux, first player to sign with Seattle's MLS team, is picked by Philadelphia

DON RUIZ; The News Tribune | • Published November 26, 2009

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The original Sounder is a Sounder no more.

The Philadelphia Union selected forward/midfielder Sebastien Le Toux from Sounders FC’s unprotected list Wednesday in the Major League Soccer expansion draft.

Le Toux arrived in Seattle in 2007 as a member of the USL-1 Sounders and on May 8, 2008, he became the first player to sign with Seattle’s MLS club.

“With expansion comes the unfortunate consequence that you’re likely to lose someone,” Sounders coach Sigi Schmid said in a news release. “Seba is a quality player, and it’s understandable that Philadelphia valued his abilities and brought him aboard.”

Le Toux, 25, is a native of Rennes, France. He played in 28 games for the MLS Sounders, including 15 starts. He recorded one goal and three assists.

“Sebastien Le Toux was a very, very good player in USL when they brought him to the Sounders,” Union coach Peter Nowak said. “I watched him in many games this season, and I was very impressed.”

The 15 established MLS clubs were allowed to protect 11 players each, and the remainder of their rosters became available to the Union. The expansion team was allowed 10 picks, but no club could lose more than one player.

Philadelphia’s other selections were: D Jordan Harvey (Colorado), M Andrew Jacobsen (D.C. United), GK Brad Knighton (New England), M Stefani Miglioranzi (Los Angeles); F Alejandro Moreno (Columbus), D Dave Myrie (Chicago), M Shea Salinas (San Jose), D Shavar Thomas (Chivas USA), and M Nick Zimmerman (New York).

The Union will play its inaugural game March 25 against the Sounders at Qwest Field.

Other moves

Also on Wednesday, the Sounders waived college draft picks Michael Fucito and Evan Brown, along with free agent Lamar Neagle of Federal Way.

Brown, a 22-year-old defender from Wake Forest, and Fucito, a 23-year-old midfielder from Harvard, were the16th and 46th picks, respectively, in the 2009 SuperDraft.

Neagle, 22, was born in Tacoma, played at Thomas Jefferson High School in Federal Way and went on to play for UNLV.

None saw action during the MLS regular season.