Sounders midfielder Vargas joins Atlético Madrid

Midfielder Obed Vargas completed a transfer to Atlético Madrid from MLS side Seattle Sounders FC, joining the LaLiga club through June 30, 2030.

Sources tell ESPN that Seattle will receive a club record transfer fee. That would put it in excess of the $4 million that Tottenham Hotspur paid for DeAndre Yedlin back in 2014. The transfer also contains incentive clauses as well as a percentage of any future transfer.

Vargas previously expressed his desire to one day feature for Atleti after facing the LaLiga side at the 2025 Club World Cup.

“I hope [to one day play with Atlético], I think if I keep doing everything well then one day I’ll be able to join,” he said during the 2025 summer tournament.

According to Seattle GM and chief soccer officer Craig Waibel, that match was the genesis of the deal. Seattle owner Adrian Hanauer approached some Atleti executives that day in June, and alerted them that Vargas was a player to watch.

“[Hanauer] said, ‘Hey, make sure you keep your eye on [Vargas]. He’s good enough to pique your interest. He’s good enough to catch your attention, and today he’ll leave no doubt.’ Without irony, Obed performed consistent and very well that day, just like he has for years now. That’s where it started.”

Waibel said the two sides were in periodic contact after that encounter, but that talks heated up in the last three weeks. With Vargas out of contract at the end of the year, it was imperative that Seattle get something for him now, otherwise it could have lost him for nothing.

“We were realistic. I was realistic in the process that Obed was not going to be their top target in this window with the club that they are,” Waibel said. “And so there was a little bit of patience involved, but again, compliments to Atlético Madrid, who at no point flinched on their interest in Obed as a player and their belief that he can keep developing with their guidance.”

Waibel also credited Atleti’s director of football Carlos Bucero as well as technical director Severiano Garcia with helping get the deal over the line.

“There was no tricky business. There was no one trying to fool each other,” Waibel said. “It was very respectful and it was awesome. Genuinely in this business, we come across all sorts of deals and people and it was really, really nice to deal with them. They’re a great group there.”

The 20-year-old midfielder now departs from Seattle Sounders, where he first debuted in 2021 before going on to record four goals and 12 assists in 92 MLS appearances across five seasons.

The Mexico international became a crucial part of the side under head coach Brian Schmetzer, featuring in the team’s 2022 Concacaf Champions League triumph and 2025 Leagues Cup final victory over Inter Miami CF.

Vargas’ club success garnered the attention of several clubs, with the midfielder even rejecting an offer from Liga MX team América in order to pursue his dream of playing in Europe.

“They [Club América] reached out, but my priority is going to Europe,” Vargas said to ESPN.

Internationally, Vargas received calls to represent the Mexican national team on both youth and senior levels. The midfielder most recently featured under manager Javier Aguirre as a substitute in a friendly against Uruguay in the 65th minute.

“Every time I’ve been in a camp, the coaching staff lets us know that we are in there for a reason,” Vargas said. “There is only a certain number of players that can make the roster, so if you are here it means you have a chance to make the World Cup roster. They tell us to be healthy, be fit and be playing, that’ll give you the best chance of making the squad. So those are my goals this year, be healthy, be fit and be playing.”

In the final hour of the LaLiga winter transfer window, Atlético Madrid bolstered their midfield with the signing of Rodrigo Mendoza from Elche. The Spain U21 international has committed to the club with a long-term contract running through 2031.