Expansion Sounders FC sign G Eylander

Jan 5, 2009 - 11:28 PM RENTON, Washington (Ticker) -- Expansion Seattle Sounders FC signed goalkeeper Chris Eylander, the team announced Monday.

The 24-year-old Eylander played the past three seasons with the USL-1 Seattle Sounders, leading the league's first division in saves the past two campaigns.

Eylander, who attended the University of Washington, will back up the MLS club's starting goalkeeper Kasey Keller.

"Having played for the USL Sounders the past three years and having grown up in the area, I had always wanted to play in MLS," Eylander said. "To reach that goal and do so by playing for the first MLS team in Seattle is really, really special for me and very exciting."

Sounders FC begins its inaugural MLS season by hosting the New York Red Bulls at Qwest Field on March 19. Sounders FC head coach Sigi Schmid hopes Eylander will be a big part of the first campaign.

"We're very excited to have Chris join our team," Schmid said. "I've seen him play at the University of Washington and I also followed his career with the USL Sounders. He's a quality goalkeeper and a quality individual for our team."