USL Championship centerback bolsters degree surrounding the spine line.
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Show All options that are sharing: Sounders sign Abdoulaye Cissoko to First Team deal
Charis Wilson / Sounders FC Communications
Jordy Delem’s damage resistant to the San Jose Earthquakes kept the Seattle Sounders a little shorthanded regarding defensive degree. Delem’s position that is primary becoming a member of the entity in question happens to be to be a preventative midfielder, a job in which the pub is well-stocked. Aided by the move to a great 3-5-2 formation in 2021 Delem was at series to check out even more of their mins being a centerback, a role he typically fingers the Martinique national team. But without him or her Brian Schmetzer just met with the four members perhaps in line for beginners’ moments when you look at the relative rear three. Insert Abdoulaye Cissoko.
The Sounders announced on Friday that Cissoko experienced finalized with all the team that is first. The CB that is 21-year-old joined Defiance in 2020 after signing from NISA club San Diego 1904 FC. While in the reduced 2020 USL Championship period, he played in 12 of Tacoma’s 16 on-line games, starting up 9 moments like the last six on-line games. They earned one begin being a right back, along with starts as both left and right CB that is sided in back-four as well as in the guts and right side of the back-three. That versatility should allow him or her to deliver cover to virtually of the CBs that is starting really as possibly completing for Alex Roldan wearing a touch. For an added bonus, over the course online payday IA of preseason Cissoko had become the primary punishment taker for Tacoma, proving their potential with an emphatic surface to lock in a draw in the team’s 2021 opener against LA Galaxy II. He’s not starred within the last few two Defiance games, perhaps in expectation of your statement.
Schmetzer explained they initially turned into convinced that Cissoko could bet on the MLS degree during preseason education whenever the centerback matched up against Will Bruin and presented their own up against the bruising forward.
“I appreciate Will Bruin since the struggle between Cissoko along with his capacity to dangle with Will gave me the confidence to sign him,” Schmetzer said.
A source showed that the Sounders are unlikely to produce additional signings before the near of the primary transport screen on June 1. The supplementary screen opens on July 7, after which another origin showed confidence that the Sounders would at least signal a U22 effort player and likely other individuals.
Cissoko is actually young, and somewhat novice that has less than 1,000 minutes that are professional his or her buckle. Detailed at 6’3” and 192 lbs., he’s got the shape to keep his own against many actual attackers, and will serve as a target on preset items and edges. He’s additionally not afraid to use his or her structure to remove away passes or be in the real way of photos or crosses. They employs their very long legs to effect that is good poking golf ball out of opponents, and adds on his own in great position to split right up play regularly.
Cissoko’s driving shall end up being of certain interest, due to the hope to use control with both Washington and Tacoma. Among regular members in 2020, his own 86.7% driving precision was ideal in the team. They was able that amount while calculating 45.6 moves per 90 mins. His driving ended up being particularly neat as part of his half that is own his or her reliability hopped up to 94%. He’s effective at more than just easy moves, frequently exposing a great diagonal golf ball that allows him or her to change the subject of play and start the adventure upwards from his own CB location. His 54.5% precision on long goes by ended up being one of the better regarding the team, and just three area members tried much more than his 66 passes that are long.
Cissoko had been among the list of group forerunners in the majority of defensive areas in 2020. He averaged a 58% success rate on duels, 60% on aerial duels, and obtained 52% of their tackles. The hop for the MLS amount is just a significant one, especially for defenders, but quite simply being in the 1st Team ecosystem is useful to his or her advancement.
Cissoko’s trip with the Sounders First group is just one that uses a path that is well-worn Tacoma to Dallas. That route has actually largely been recently used by members with Sounders Academy associations but in addition has particularly been used by Nouhou and Delem (despite the fact that had gone from Tukwila to Dallas, technically). Those are pretty solid steps to end up being next in. Cissoko’s signing delivers the Sounders effective senior roster to 24 participants.
“It ended up being the absolute most decision that is important of existence arrive at america,” Cissoko mentioned after signing. “I’m really happy. I became being a member, I increased just like a boyfriend and I’m thankful for the Sounders organization for giving me that possibility.”
He said he’ll continue steadily to don the No. 92 he or she used aided by the Defiance throughout his or her Defiance profession to be a nod to the area of his or her delivery Sevres, France whoever mail rule is (92)300.
Usually the one bump against Cissoko would be that he consumes a roster that is international, but which was regarded much less problematic after Raul Ruidiaz collected his or her green card and gave the Sounders three open spots.
PRESENT SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC ROSTER (25 on productive roster)