Sounders’ All-Star Nicolas Lodeiro Wanted by Al-Hilal

Seattle Sounders midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro in 2019
Seattle Sounders midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro in 2019. Photo by Jacob Kupferman/CSM/Shutterstock (10471232bk)

Seattle Sounders’ star midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro might swap the United States for the Middle East next season. According to a report by Raisa Simplicio, Lodeiro is wanted by Saudi Arabia side Al-Hilal.

Lodeiro was set to become a free agent after the 2020 MLS season, but the Sounders activated their club option and now have him under control for the next year as well. This means that Al-Hilal will have to pay a transfer fee to Seattle if they want to get Lodeiro right away.

This isn’t the first time that Lodeiro’s name is being mentioned in transfer talks. He was previously linked with a return to Boca Juniors, where he played before coming to MLS.

Nicolas Lodeiro has been a key figure for Sounders since arriving in Seattle in 2016. He helped the club to three MLS Cup finals trips in the past four years, two of which concluded with a trophy.

In 117 games in MLS, Lodeiro scored 31 goals and dished 56 assists. He has an All-Star appearance to his name from 2019.

If Al-Hilal is successful in acquiring Lodeiro, the 31-year-old midfielder will become the fourth high-profile player that left MLS for Saudi Arabia in recent months. Al-Nassr FC previously acquired Atlanta United’s star Pity Martinez in a transfer worth $18 million, Alexandru Mitrita left NCYFC to join Al-Ahli while Montreal Impact’s Saphir Taider joined Al-Ain.

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