SEATTLE – Seattle Sounders FC announced on Wednesday that it has signed Tacoma Defiance forward Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez as a Homegrown Player. Ocampo-Chavez signed with Defiance last season following a standout campaign with Sounders FC's Academy, and recently led the Sounders FC U-17 side in scoring during this past month's 2019 Generation adidas Cup, which saw the Rave Green become the first MLS organization to win the Champions Division.

The 17-year-old is currently in Bradenton, Florida as part of the United States U-17 National Team squad that will kick off the 2019 Concacaf U-17 Championship on Thursday evening at IMG Academy.

“We are pleased to sign a second player off our Generation adidas Cup and National Championship-winning squad to the First Team, and it's a testament to the development system we have in place,” said Sounders FC General Manager & President of Soccer Garth Lagerwey. “Alfonso is a talented young player who has proven himself among his peers, and now he has the opportunity to show what he can do at a higher level.”

Ocampo-Chavez has been a mainstay on the U.S. Youth National Team circuit ever since he joined Sounders Academy midway through 2016, and he is currently with his country on U-17 international duty. Along with teammate Josh Atencio, he led the Stars and Stripes to the 2016 Torneo Delle Nazioni in Italy, defeating the likes of England and Portugal. Later that summer, Ocampo-Chavez guided the United States to a second-place finish at the 2015 CONCACAF Championships.

The young forward has been a key component of the U-17 National Team since the start of the new cycle, earning callups to the 2017 and 2018 Nike Friendlies, where he squared off against some of the top nations in the world. During the summer of 2018, Ocampo-Chavez scored goals against Mexico, Argentina and Brazil. He is currently the leading scorer for the U.S. U-17 YNT this cycle with five goals in 14 matches.

“Alfonso has come on strong in the last year, including being a key player in our Academy's victories at the GA Cup and featuring regularly with the Youth National Team,” said Sounders FC VP of Soccer & Sporting Director Chris Henderson. “He has very good technique striking the ball and has a nose for the goal. Our staff is looking forward to working with him to see him continue on the development pathway, and hopefully he can be a First Team regular in the future.”

Ocampo-Chavez has appeared in three games for Tacoma Defiance this season, including two starts. He has recorded two shots, including one on goal. In 2018, the forward made two starts in three games in the USL Championship, recording one shot on goal. Ocampo-Chavez made his professional debut as a 15-year-old on July 8, 2017, when he started and played the full 90 minutes for Tacoma against Real Monarchs SLC.