In today’s world of professional and international soccer, the collegiate player making an impact on the United States men’s national team is a rarity. Right now, that rare player just so happens to be former Stanford forward Jordan Morris.

Also a rarity, Major League Soccer just won a battle for a young international over a major European club. On Thursday it was announced that the former Seattle Sounders’ youth academy product would turn down an offer from Bundesliga side Weder Bremen and sign for his home side.

“It’s been my hometown club for a while,” Morris said in a press conference to announce his signing on Thursday afternoon. “I’ve lived in Seattle for my whole life. I’ve followed this club in their USL days and in their MLS days as well. It’s just a huge honor to be back here. I’m excited to be home and to get going.”

Morris appeared to be very serious about looking at international prospects, agreeing to a 1o-day trial with Bremen during the Bundesliga’s recent winter break in action. According to all reports, he impressed, and Weder Bremen did offer him a full first-team contract after the trial.

However, as Morris said, the lure of family and playing at home in the United States was too much to overcome.

Morris burst on to the USMNT scene from nearly out of nowhere, even in the soccer-loving world here in America. He made his debut with the full USMNT in November of 2014, playing the final 14 minutes of a 4-1 friendly loss against Ireland.

He turned all that experience in to a national championship for Stanford this fall, and earned himself the 2015 MAC Hermann Trophy as the best collegiate soccer player in the country.

During his two years at Stanford there were numerous overtures from MLS and international clubs for him to turn pro. However, Morris wanted to go the collegiate route first and accomplish a few things on that level.

“At times, I’ll say it was — maybe frustrating is the wrong word — but we certainly wanted to sign Jordan before today, but Jordan made a commitment to Stanford University, his teammates, his coaches,” Sounders investor/operator Adrian Hanauer continued. “Every six months, we’d tried to test that commitment and character, but he was steadfast in what he had committed to.”

It was a frustration for the Sounders’ ownership, but the long game paid off in the end.

[MLS]

About Andrew Coppens

Andy is a contributor to The Comeback as well as Publisher of Big Ten site talking10. He also is a member of the FWAA and has been covering college sports since 2011. Andy is an avid soccer fan and runs the Celtic FC site The Celtic Bhoys. If he's not writing about sports, you can find him enjoying them in front of the TV with a good beer!

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