The Seattle Sounders have signed Zach Mathers and Jordy Delem, two midfielders from Sounders FC 2 of the USL, to the first-team roster ahead of the MLS season.
Mathers, a former second-round draft pick out of Duke, played three times for the first team in U.S. Open Cup matches last season, while Delem, 23, has amassed 32 caps for Martinique.
"Adding Zach and Jordy provides us depth and versatility in the midfield as we get ready to begin the 2017 season," Sounders general manager Gath Lagerwey said in a news release Thursday. "It’s also another great example of our development system at work, as both players join the first team after impressing last year with S2 and proving their abilities throughout our preseason camp."
Seattle opens the 2017 MLS season Saturday with a road match against the Houston Dynamo.