Sounders FC selects two players on first day of 2018 MLS SuperDraft

PHILADELPHIA, PENN. - Sounders FC today selected two players on the first day of the 2018 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas, held at the Philadelphia Convention Center. The Rave Green selected Seattle University midfielder Alex Roldan - younger brother of Sounders FC midfielder Cristian Roldan - with the 22^nd pick in the First Round, then chose Duke defender Markus Fjortoft with the 22^ndselection of the Second Round (45^th overall).

Roldan, 21, attended Seattle University, where he started all 82 games over his four years, finishing his collegiate career with 18 goals and 17 assists. In 2017, he scored six goals and led the Redhawks with eight assists, including assisting on the game-winning overtime goal at the University of Washington in the NCAA Tournament on November 16, 2017. In 2016, he led his team with eight goals, including six game winners, in addition to three assists.

Fjortoft, 24, joins the Rave Green from Duke University, where he played for four years, starting all 74 games and recording seven goals and two assists while earning team Most Valuable Defensive Player honors in both 2016 and 2017. Prior to his time at Duke, Fjortoft - whose father, Jan Age, earned 71 caps with Norway - played in the Academy for Norwegian club Baerum SK.

The 2018 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas concludes on Sunday, January 21 via conference call. Sounders FC holds one pick in the Third Round (68^th overall selection).

TRANSACTIONS: Sounders FC selects Alex Roldan with the 22^nd selection in the First Round and Markus Fjortoft with the 22^nd selection of the Second Round (45^th overall) in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft (both currently unsigned to the First Team roster). 

Name: Alex Roldan
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-10
Weight: 155
Age: 21
Born: July 28, 1996
Hometown: Pico Rivera, California
Citizenship: United States / El Salvador
College: Seattle University
Acquired: Selected with the 22^nd pick of the First Round (22^nd overall) in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft

Name: Markus Fjortoft
Position: Defender
Height: 6-5
Weight: 205
Age: 24
Born: January 21, 1994
Hometown: Asker, Norway
Citizenship: Norway
College: Duke University
Acquired: Selected with the 22^nd pick of the Second Round (45^th overall) in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft