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Sounders, midfielder Brad Evans agree to multiyear contract

Sounders’ Brad Evans had four goals and career-best five assists last season. (Associated Press)
Seattle Times

As expected, Sounders FC signed midfielder Brad Evans to a multiyear contract, the club announced Wednesday.

Evans, 28, has been with the Sounders since 2009, ranking third in games played. He is one of only four players to make more than 100 appearances for the Sounders. He has been capped 16 times by the U.S. National Team.

“Re-signing Brad was a major priority for us,” Sounders co-owner and general manager Adrian Hanauer said in a release. “He has become a leader in the locker room and is a versatile player on the field. Brad exhibits the commitment, values and spirit of playing for the Sounders FC badge.”

Evans scored four goals and recorded a career-high five assists last season.

“My goal was to stay in Seattle, and I’m very excited to continue my career here,” Evans said in the release. “It’s always an honor to play for this city and these fans.”

Evans made 10 appearances for the national team in 2013.

Evans played two seasons for the Columbus Crew before being selected by the Sounders in the 2008 expansion draft. Evans played at UC Irvine and was taken by Columbus with the 15th pick in 2007.

Sounders most valuable, profitable team in MLS

According to Forbes, the Sounders are the most valuable and most profitable team in MLS.

The Sounders were valued at $175 million, according to the Forbes report released Wednesday. The second-most valuable team was the Los Angeles Galaxy, at $170 million. Portland was next, at $141 million.

According to Forbes, 10 of 19 MLS teams made a profit this year, led by the Sounders. Seattle had an operating income of $18.2 million, according to Forbes. Second-best were the Timbers, at $9.4 million.

Yedlin, Neagle finalists

Sounders FC’s DeAndre Yedlin is a finalist for MLS rookie of the year and Lamar Neagle is a finalist for comeback player of the year, the league announced.

The rookie of the year is scheduled to be announced Monday, the comeback player of the year on Dec. 2. The final awards, including league MVP, will be named on Dec. 5.

Reign make a deal

Seattle Reign FC acquired midfielder Kim Little in a trade with the Washington Spirit, for Christine Nairn. Little was signed by the Reign to a one-year agreement covering the 2014 National Women’s Soccer League season with a club option for 2015.

Little, a Scotland international, played six seasons with Arsenal LFC. She has been a member of the Scottish Women’s National Team since 2007 and played for the Great Britain team in the 2012 Olympics.

Reign FC coach and general manager Laura Harvey was Arsenal’s coach from 2010 to 2012.

“I’m very excited to join Reign FC and play for Laura again,” Little said. “We were very successful at Arsenal, and hopefully we can be just as successful in Seattle.”

“Having coached Kim for nearly four years, I have no doubt that her creativity and goal-scoring ability will prove an exciting proposition for the NWSL,” Harvey said.

Nairn, a midfielder, had three goals and five assists last season for the Reign.