Mercer Island native Jordan Morris plans to begin pro career in United States

The Seattle Sounders added two more college players on Tuesday. But the final two rounds of the Major League Soccer SuperDraft were no match for news from across the Atlantic that forward Jordan Morris, who has seven caps with the U.S. national team, has decided to begin his professional career in the United States.

Morris had been training with Germany’s Werder Bremen of the Bundesliga, but the club announced it was ending its pursuit after being informed that Morris “currently sees his future in America.”

More specifically, the Mercer Island native’s destination would seem to be Seattle, which has offered what has been reported to be the most lucrative homegrown player contract in the history of MLS. Morris is a product of the Sounders FC Academy and recently announced his intention to go pro after concluding his junior season at Stanford.

However, neither Morris nor the Sounders immediately confirmed that a deal had been agreed upon.

“We think we’ve put our best foot forward,” general manager Garth Lagerwey said last week. “We think we have a good relationship with Jordan and his family, and we hope it comes to a positive conclusion for us.”

Meanwhile, the Sounders picked up two more college players as MLS concluded the final two rounds of its SuperDraft by conference call.

In the third round, Seattle selected Emir Alihodzic, a 22-year-old midfielder from the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

In the fourth, the club added Michael Nelson, a 21-year-old defender from Old Dominion.

The University of Washington had two players selected — both midfielders, and both by Vancouver. The Whitecaps chose James Moberg in the third round and Josh Heard in the fourth.

This story was originally published January 19, 2016 at 8:38 PM with the headline "Mercer Island native Jordan Morris plans to begin pro career in United States."