Sounders sign FW Obafemi Martins to multi-year extension
Published 11:33 am Tuesday, October 28, 2014
One of the best individual seasons in Sounders history was awarded with a contract extension Tuesday, as the club announced it has signed forward Obafemi Martins to a multi-year deal.
Martins, one of the team’s three designated players along with Clint Dempsey and Osvaldo Alonso, is a league MVP candidate this season after scored a club-record 17 goals while recording 13 assists, which also tied a franchise record. His strong season helped the Sounders earn their first Supporters’ Shield, the trophy given to the team with the league’s best regular season record.
“Oba has been an integral part of our team on and off the field, and has established himself as one of the premier players in MLS,” Sounders general manager and minority owner Adrian Hanauer said in a press release. “He was a monumental signing when he first joined us last season, and we are thrilled that he will continue his career with Sounders FC.”
Martins, who turned 30 Tuesday, signed with Seattle just after the start of the 2013 season, and in two seasons has 25 goals in 51 games. The Sounders are 19-0-0 in games in which Martins scores.
“I’m very excited that Oba is going to be staying on here in Seattle and that we were able to come to an agreement,” Sounders oach Sigi Schmid said in the release. “He’s had a fantastic season and we expect more fantastic seasons as we move forward.”
Terms of the deal were not announced, but ESPNFC.com reported the deal is for two years and worth more than $3 million per year, a significant raise from the $1.753 million he made this season.
“I’m very happy to have signed a contract to be with this team and these players for multiple years,” Martins said in the release. “This season is not over yet, so I’m excited to do more and score more goals, but it’s nice to know I’ll be here going forward.”
Martins, who represented Nigeria in the 2010 World Cup, previously played in several of Europe’s top leagues, spending time with Inter Milan (Italy), Newcastle United (England), VfL Wolfsburg (Germany), Rubin Kazan (Russia) and his most recent stop, Levante (Spain).
