Obed Vargas joins Atlético Madrid – Seattle Sounders receive club record transfer fee

Mexican star 

Obed Vargas has joined Spanish giants Atlético Madrid from the Seattle Sounders. The Alaska, Anchorage native, who represents Mexico internationally, completed his move on the final day of the Spanish transfer window. Vargas will join in a deal worth €3 million plus significant add-ons. Although the initial fee is significantly less than Vargas’ €8m market value, the deal still constitutes a record outgoing transfer fee for the Sounders (overview).

Although the transfer fee is less than what fans of the club may have expected, the Sounders, who had rejected bids in the region of $10m (€8.5m) from Liga MX clubs, have always made it clear that they would work with Vargas to facilitate a move to Europe. Furthermore, with Vargas opting to join only a handful of teams in Europe and his contract set to expire at the end of the season, the Sounders had limited options to sell him. Additionally, if Vargas does well, the add-ons could see the overall package come close to Vargas’ current market value.

In fact, the transfer to Atlético is a dream move for the 20-year-old central midfielder. “Atlético de Madrid, they’re underdogs, all the time,” Vargas said in an interview ahead of the Sounders’ clash against Atlético Madrid at last summer’s FIFA Club World Cup. And when I lived in Alaska, I started watching them, especially in the 2014 Champions League final. I think it correlates with my own story. I identify myself with that, coming from Alaska, of having to fight through moving, and an Academy team, a second team, a national team. I think it’s been my mentality all the way through my career.”

Headed to Atlético Madrid – What sort of player is Obed Vargas

Developed by the Sounders academy, Vargas burst onto the scene in 2022 after impressing for the Sounders’ reserve side, Tacoma Defiance, in the USL Championship. Capable of playing as a no.8 and no.6, Vargas has scored eight goals and provided ten assists in 130 games for the Sounders across all competitions. Mature beyond his age, Vargas showed his ability at last summer’s FIFA Club World Cup and shut down Lionel Messi in the Sounders’ 3-0 win over Inter Miami CF in the Leagues Cup final.

That game and his performances at the U20 World Cup, plus his play at the FIFA Club World Cup had scouts notice Vargas. Atlético Madrid got to see Vargas play live as he performed well in the Sounders’ 3-1 defeat to the Spaniards in on matchday 2 of the tournament. Since then, scouts have kept track of Vargas. This winter, Atlético have actively looked into adding to their midfield. The club tried and failed to sign Leon Goretzka from Bayern Munich. In Vargas, they have secured a player with a similar sealing but as a more long-term option.