Press Release: Seattle Sounders FC
SEATTLE, WASH. – Sounders FC today picked up two players in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas. With only one pick coming into today, the Rave Green traded a 2022 second round selection to Inter Miami CF for Oregon State defender Joe Hafferty, a former Sounders FC Academy product and today’s 37th overall selection. The club then drafted goalkeeper TJ Bush out of James Madison with the 80th overall pick in the third round.
Hafferty, 22, was a two-time All-Pac-12 selection, including a First Team nod in 2019. He started 50 of his 53 appearances over three seasons for the Beavers before seeing his senior year called off due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A native of Renton and a Liberty High School graduate, Hafferty spent 2013 through 2017 with Sounders FC Academy.
Bush, 23, was a two-time First Team All-CAA selection for the Dukes, where he appeared in 57 games over three seasons. He allowed just 49 goals and compiled an impressive 30-13-5 record from 2017-2019, logging a 0.84 goals against average. Bush’s senior season in 2020 was also cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
TRANSACTIONS: Sounders FC trades 2022 second round MLS SuperDraft selection to Inter Miami FC in exchange for defender Joe Hafferty, Miami’s 2021 second round selection. Sounders FC selects goalkeeper TJ Bush with the 80th selection of the third round of the 2021 MLS SuperDraft (both currently unsigned to the First Team roster).
Name: Joe Hafferty
Position: Defender
Height: 5-9
Weight: 170
Age: 22
Born: March 21, 1998 in Tukwila, WA
Hometown: Renton, WA
Citizenship: USA
College: Oregon State
Acquired: Drafted 37th overall in the second round of the 2021 MLS SuperDraft on January 21, 2021. Acquired by Seattle via trade for a 2022 second round SuperDraft selection.
Name: TJ Bush
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 6-3
Weight: 190
Age: 23
Born: October 27, 1997 in Fairfax, VA
Hometown: Herndon, VA
Citizenship: USA
College: James Madison
Acquired: Drafted 80th overall in the third round of the 2021 MLS SuperDraft on January 21, 2021.
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Russell is the Content Director for the Eli Network. He studied broadcast journalism at Eastern Oregon and North Dakota State University. Mostly covers soccer and basketball in the Seattle area and is the current play-by-play voice for Seattle Redhawks basketball. You can follow him @brussbrwn.
