Nelson Valdez is not coming back to Seattle. The 32-year-old has returned home to his native country on a free transfer signing with Cerro Porteno, one of the traditional giants of Paraguayan football. The Sounders will miss his defensive energy leading the line, but certainly not the dearth of goals that accompanied his time as the team’s striker.
Nelson Haedo Valdéz firmando el contrato en compañía del presidente Juan José Zapag, oficialmente ya es jugador de Cerro Porteño. pic.twitter.com/khHbspJCBW
— Cerro Porteño (@CerroPort1912) January 4, 2017
While Valdez was a potent cultural force in the locker room, the Sounders elected not to pick up his contract option for the 2017 season after a lackluster offensive season saw him net zero regular season goals.