Trinidad and Tobago Under-20 player Cordell Cato has become the latest Trinidadian to sign a professional contract to play in American Major League Soccer (MLS) after agreeing to a one-year deal with Seattle Sounders this week.
Nineteen-year-old Cato had been on trial there earlier this year and Sounders placed him on their discovery list before eventually offering the deal, which is a one-year contract with the option for an additional two years. His agent Evans Wise relayed the news yesterday.
"Right now we're just working on some final documents before he comes back over to join the Seattle team. He has to be here in time to get things started with them by January 15.
He will also complete a medical when he returns and the club will then unveil him," Wise told Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) media officer Shaun Fuentes.
"It's a great opportunity for him and I'm happy for Cordell because he's one of the players who has worked very hard.
He hasn't been on the national team in recent times but that doesn't deny talent when it comes to taking opportunities," said Wise, who also represents midfielder Kelvin Molino and Ataullah Guerra, who was on trial with DC United and Philadelphia Union earlier this year.
Cato, formerly of St Anthony's College, will attempt to make an impact at Seattle as they head into pre-season training.
"I'm really looking forward to joining the club and I'm very excited to take on this next chapter in my career. I never played in the T&T Pro League. I've trained with Defence Force and now to get this opportunity is the best thing to happen to me in my life so far,' Cato told Fuentes.
"Seattle are a club with a lot of ambitions and great facilities and I think this can be an excellent opportunity to develop as a player and play a part in their attempts to be victorious in the MLS," said Cato.