Saad Abdul-Salaam joining Sounders down in Tucson

Former New York City FC right-back Saad Abdul-Salaam is joining the Seattle Sounders down in Tucson next week, per the broadcast of Saturday’s loss to the Houston Dynamo in preseason action. Abdul-Salaam is out of contract, but received a bona fide offer from the Pigeons. Most of his starting time is as a right-back, with substitute appearances in right midfield and left-back as well. He just finished his fourth year in MLS with 49 starts over that stretch.

Abdul-Salaam made about $120,000 last year when he started in three matches and appeared in another, assisting twice in 273 minutes. He has 1 goal and 10 assists in his career from 4626 minutes played. Saad has been known to get forward in a wing-back role, despite mostly playing in a four-back set mode. His issues mainly deal with injury history, as he only started more than 10 times once, in 2016. While he isn’t goal dangerous, he can provide an effective cross from the flank.

His trial with the Sounders should be viewed as an opportunity to fill the now-vacant Waylon Francis role as the 5th fullback on the team at a much lower salary number.