Freddie Ljungberg Signs for Seattle

Big time soccer has arrived in Seattle as Sounders FC officially unveiled Swedish legend Freddie Ljungberg as their designated player for 2009. The attacking midfielder won 71 caps for Sweden scoring 14 goals, and captained them in Euro 2008. His club career is best known for his nine years at Arsenal in North London. Playing in a very successful side alongside greats such as Thierry Henry, Robert Pirès, Sol Campbell, Patrick Viera, and Dennis Bergkamp, he won two league titles and three FA Cups in England including a league and cup double in 2002. Ljungberg’s arrival signals the end of months of speculation about who Sounders FC would sign as their Designated Player, or indeed whether they would even sign one at all. Houston Dynamo and Columbus Crew are currently the two most successful clubs in the MLS and both have opted to play without one. Ljungberg’s salary is $2.5m a year and he is contracted to Seattle Sounders FC for two years. Full and comprehensive coverage from the press conference