Sounders Are Spending More Money, But Not Like They Used To

The Sounders just got their 2026 payroll numbers released by the MLS Players Association, and here is the reality check: Seattle is spending $19,092,219 this season. That is a 4.63% increase from last year. Sounds good, right? Not so fast. The league as a whole bumped spending by about 7.74%, which means the Sounders are actually falling further behind their competition.

This is not just a 2026 problem either. The Sounders now rank 18th in overall spending across all 30 MLS teams. That is a brutal drop from where they sat at the end of last year (12th) and absolutely terrible compared to 2023, when they were 7th in the league. The gap is widening, and that matters when you are trying to compete for trophies.

The Big Contract Moves

Most of the new deals handed out this offseason came in exactly where people expected them to. But a few players got surprises that tell you something about how the front office values certain guys.

Nouhou landed the biggest percentage bump, getting a 46% raise with a new three-year extension after hitting what would have been a contract year. He went from $571,875 in guaranteed compensation to $800,000. That is the kind of money you throw at a player you believe in long-term.

Paul Rothrock got the most eye-popping raise of them all: a 400% jump to $525,000 in guaranteed compensation. Osaze De Rosario also saw his deal explode, nearly 300%, though that was mostly because he had been on a supplemental deal before. He now makes $315,000.

Danny Muosvski got a more modest 22% raise to $712,924 after what the club clearly felt was a breakout season. Meanwhile, Stefan Frei took a 35% pay cut down to $390,750, which is about half what he was making at his peak in 2023. That one came as expected.

Who Seattle Brought In

Among the new signings, Hassani Dotson is the highest earner at $828,125, which is the maximum amount allowed under the free agent rules. That tells you he was a priority target for the front office.

The Sounders are not throwing money around like they used to. The math is simple: they are spending less than the rest of the league is spending, the gap is widening, and at some point that catches up with you on the field. Seattle fans have seen better days in terms of payroll muscle.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.