Although the formal announcement appears to have come in under the radar, Obafemi Martins obtained a green card at some point in 2015. The development first came to light when MLS released the roster updates for all 20 teams. A Sounders spokesperson later confirmed that the roster was accurate.
While this may seem like a simple matter of paperwork, it does have real-world ramifications for the Sounders' roster. Instead of being at the international limit of eight players as previously believed, the Sounders actually have an open spot. There's also a decent possibility that someone like Oniel Fisher or Damion Lowe -- Jamaican citizens who have spent several years in the United States as both students and professionals -- could obtain green cards and open more spots.