Ryan Kent is relishing the opportunity of a new chapter in his career after joining the Seattle Sounders for the rest of the season, with an option of extending until 2026. 

Kent had been without a club since October 2024 after his contract was terminated by mutual consent with Fenerbahce, just over a year after leaving Rangers for Turkey. 

Following Paul Arriola's season-ending injury against Cruz Azul, the Sounders looked to the 28-year-old to find a player to fill the attacking void the winger had previously provided.

And Kent is looking forward to showcasing his talents in the MLS, starting this weekend with a visit to the Snapdragon Stadium to face San Diego FC. 

"To hear the coaches say that they're looking for an exciting player kind of made me excited in a way," said Kent. "You go to some places, and managers want to prevent you from doing what you want to do as a player.

"I'm an exciting player. I like to lift bums off seats, I like to dribble, create loads of chances.

"And, having watched the [San Jose] game the other day, the way the guys played, especially out in the wide positions, it looks like there's going to be loads of opportunities to go and run at people."

San Diego, meanwhile, continue to enjoy a dream start to their first season in the MLS, picking up their first home win in the competition with a 3-2 victory over Los Angeles FC.

They made a lightning start against LAFC last time out, with goals from Christopher McVey, Onni Valakari and Alex Mighten putting them three goals in front early on. 

Though they were hit back before the break with quickfire strikes from Artem Smoliakov and Cengiz Under, head coach Mikey Varas was pleased with his team's display. 

"The first 38 or 40 minutes of that match we were unbelievable," Varas said.

"I hope everyone takes notice of the San Diego team's effort and the quality of its players. That's how I felt at that moment.

"You play a top team with top players and those things can happen. They started pressing us and we made an effort. We lost our composure for a minute. Half-time came at the right moment."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

San Diego FC – Paddy McNair

McNair (103) and Jeppe Tverskov (101) each completed over 100 passes in San Diego's win on Saturday. A player has completed 100 or more passes 11 times this MLS season with San Diego players accounting for four of them.

The former Manchester United defender also competed in a team-high four tackles, while only Christopher McVey (five) made more clearances than McNair against LAFC (four).

Seattle Sounders – Albert Rusnak 

Rusnak scored the equaliser in Seattle's 1-1 draw on Saturday, his fifth goal contribution of the season (two goals, three assists).

This is the first time in Rusnak's MLS career that he's been involved in five goals in his first six appearances of a season, and he will be keen to carry on that form.

MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW

Seattle are unbeaten in six straight meetings with expansion teams dating back to 2019 (W5 D1), including winning the last four in a row. The Sounders have not allowed more than one goal in a match against an expansion side since a 4-1 loss at CF Montreal in June 2012.

But the Sounders have won just one of their first six matches of a regular season for the sixth time, though they went on to make the playoffs in each of the previous five.

San Diego (W3 D2 L1), meanwhile, is the second expansion team in MLS history to lose only one of their first six matches (St. Louis City SC). No MLS newcomers have suffered just one defeat in their first seven matches of MLS play.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

San Diego FC – 36.5%

Draw – 26.2%

Seattle Sounders – 37.2%