SEATTLE, WASH. – Seattle Sounders FC today announced that it has signed goalkeeper Jacob Castro as a Homegrown Player. A Sounders FC Academy product, Castro recently finished a collegiate career at San Diego State and Washington, where he was a two-time All-Pac-12 selection. The goalkeeper signs a one-year deal for 2023 with club options for 2024-2026.
“We are excited to sign Jacob after a standout career in the Pac-12,” said General Manager & Chief Soccer Officer Craig Waibel. “He has shown great upside since joining the Academy in 2017, which he further developed in his collegiate career. We’re pleased to add yet another talented goalkeeper to an already established core.”
Castro, 22, joined Sounders FC Academy in 2017 and made four appearances for Tacoma Defiance as an amateur. He went on to play at Washington for two seasons before transferring to San Diego State, where he earned All-Pac-12 honors in 2021 and 2022. The Spanaway native became the first Aztec goalkeeper since 2006 to be named All-Pac-12 First Team in 2021 after starting all 17 matches and allowing just 16 goals with seven shutouts. He earned All-Pac-12 Second Team honors in 2022 after recording three shutouts in 16 starts. Before joining Sounders FC Academy, Castro earned All-State honors as a junior at Spanaway Lake High School, where he also played wide receiver on the football team for two seasons.
“I’m pleased to add another young, talented player from of our Academy to the squad,” said Sounders FC Head Coach Brian Schmetzer. “He joins a strong, veteran goalkeeper group, and I’m excited to see him work with Tom Dutra when preseason camp begins.”
Castro becomes the 21st Homegrown Player in team history. His addition marks the ninth Homegrown Player on Sounder FC’s current roster, joining Josh Atencio, Reed Baker-Whiting, Ethan Dobbelaere, Sota Kitahara, Danny Leyva, Jordan Morris, Dylan Teves and Obed Vargas.
Sounders FC’s roster currently sits at 26 players ahead of the 2023 campaign.
TRANSACTION: Sounders FC signs goalkeeper Jacob Castro as a Homegrown Player to a one-year contract for 2023 with club options for 2024-2026 on December 13, 2022.
Full Name: Jacob Castro
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 6-4
Weight: 190
Hometown: Spanaway, Washington
Date of Birth: December 18, 1999 in Tacoma, Washington
Nationality: United States
Acquired: Signed on December 13, 2022
