Sounders FC signs its first player: Sebastien Le Toux

Sebastien Le Toux will go down in Seattle soccer history as a No. 1.

The Sounders forward is the first player signed by Seattle's new Major League Soccer team, Sounders FC, which begins play next year. Le Toux (pronounced "Luh-two"), a 24-year-old from France who joined the USL First Division Sounders last season, signed a multiyear contract, it was announced Wednesday.

Le Toux was the minor league's most valuable player last year with the Sounders, in which the team captured the league title. He led Seattle in scoring with 22 points (10 goals, two assists) and has one goal in three games in 2008.

"I'm very proud. I'm happy," Le Toux told reporters at Qwest Field. "I really enjoy my time here, so I decided to stay here to play in Seattle."

Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer, who is in the running to be named the MLS team's first head coach, said Le Toux is the first of perhaps six to 10 current Sounders who could get contracts from Sounders FC. Le Toux hopes many of his teammates join him.

"I hope everybody," he said. "We have won a championship."

Le Toux was being courted by other MLS teams, including the Colorado Rapids and Chivas USA. That made the need to keep him in Seattle more pressing.

Le Toux, a former French First Division player, will be added to the Sounders FC roster when the MLS signing period opens after the '08 season.

"Sebastien is an outstanding young soccer player with loads of upside," Sounders FC general manager Adrian Hanauer said in a statement from the club. "Sebastien is also a great individual and had the kind of character that our fans will be proud of."