FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution today completed the signing of forward Sean Okoli after acquiring his rights in a trade with Seattle Sounders FC in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft on January 15. A former Homegrown signing of the Sounders, Okoli was a part of the Seattle side that won the Supporters’ Shield and the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in 2014. Last week, the Revs traded their second round pick (33rd overall) to the Sounders in exchange for acquiring the rights to Okoli.
Okoli is scheduled to join up with his Revolution teammates for the first time later this week when the club comes together for the start of preseason training.
The 21-year old Federal Way, Wash. native played for the Sounders FC Academy and U-23s before signing with Seattle as a Homegrown player on January 8, 2014. Okoli made three regular-season appearances off the bench for the Sounders in 2014, including his MLS debut in the club’s season-opening victory over Sporting Kansas City on March 8. He made his only ever start for Seattle in the Fourth Round of the U.S. Open Cup, scoring his team's fifth goal in a 5-0 win over PSA Elite on June 24. Okoli, who was also credited with an assist in a friendly with Tottenham Hotspur in mid-July, also played two games on loan with the USL PRO's Orange County Blues in mid-June, tallying an assist.
Prior to signing with the Sounders, Okoli starred at Wake Forest University, earning All-ACC honors in each of his three seasons with the Demon Deacons. He scored 24 goals and added nine assists in his time playing under Wake Forest head coach Jay Vidovich, leading his team to the NCAA Tournament each season. Okoli was the Demon Deacons’ leading scorer in both 2012 and 2013, including a career-best 11 goals as a sophomore in 2012.
While playing at Wake Forest, Okoli also played with the Seattle Sounders FC U-23 PDL side in 2012 and 2013. The former U.S. Under-18 international was also one of the first Academy players to play for the Sounders reserve side, seeing time in the MLS Reserve League in 2011.
