Originally published October 28, 2008 at 12:00 AM | Page modified October 28, 2008 at 7:49 PM

Swedish star Freddie Ljungberg joins Sounders FC

Freddie Ljungberg, who played 10 years in the English Premier League, decided the time was right to come to the United States and play for a Major League Soccer team. He becomes the fourth player on the Sounders FC roster.

By José Miguel Romero

Seattle Times staff reporter

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KEN LAMBERT / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Freddie Ljungberg holds up a team scarf at a news conference at Qwest Field on Tuesday after Sounders FC signed the Swedish midfielder to a multiyear contract.

Sounders FC introduced Sweden's Freddie Ljungberg as its designated player today at Qwest Field.

Ljungberg, 31, signed a multiyear contract that will, according to sources with knowledge of the deal, pay the internationally-known midfielder around $2.5 million a year in base salary.

As Sounders FC's designated player under Major League Soccer salary guidelines, only a portion of Ljungberg's salary will count against the club's salary cap next season. Ljungberg joins Sebastien Le Toux, Sanna Nyassi and Kasey Keller on the roster.

Seattle majority owner Joe Roth was the first to talk to Ljungberg about signing with Sounders FC. Roth convinced Ljungberg to visit Seattle, and Ljungberg said it reminded him of his hometown in Sweden. The two talked about the rising quality of play in MLS, and Ljungberg decided that now was the right time to make the jump to MLS.

Ljungberg played in the English Premier League — one season for West Ham United and nine before that with Arsenal. He reached an agreement with West Ham to terminate his contract earlier this year.

"I figured if I'm going to take MLS seriously and want to make it a really good league and develop it, I should come now and not in three years' time," Ljungberg said. "It took me three months to come to a decision of what I wanted to do, but the guys here have helped me in my decision by showing me around the city and what they want to do with the team."

José Miguel Romero: 206-464-2409 or jromero@seattletimes.com

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