Yesterday the Seattle Sounders announced Daniel Leyva’s transfer to Club Necaxa in Mexico’s Liga MX. Leyva signed with the club in 2019 as the youngest signing in club history.
After seven seasons in the Pacific Northwest, the 22-year-old midfielder is trading Lumen Field for Liga MX’s spotlight. The Las Vegas native compiled modest numbers — 0 goals and 10 assists across 107 appearances — but his value clearly extended beyond the stat sheet.
From Academy to Exit Ramp
Leyva’s journey through Seattle’s system reads like a textbook development story. Academy product. Homegrown signing. MLS debut at 17. Even a loan spell with Colorado to get minutes.
The reality? Those 107 appearances over seven years tell a different story. That’s roughly 15 games per season for a player once tagged as the future of Sounders midfield.
“Danny has been part of this club for many years, and throughout that time he has always put the team first,” said Seattle general manager Craig Waibel. “From the moment he joined our academy, he carried himself with the professionalism and commitment that define what it means to be a Sounder.”
Translation: Great kid, limited ceiling.
Liga MX Gamble Pays Off
Credit where it’s due — Seattle maximized their return on a developmental asset. Moving Leyva to Necaxa represents smart business for a player who’d likely never crack their first-choice XI consistently.
The 2019 U-17 World Cup representative gets his shot at meaningful minutes in Mexico’s top flight. Necaxa gets a young midfielder with MLS experience and upside. Win-win.
Leyva’s farewell statement hit all the right notes about gratitude and growth, but the subtext was clear — he needed out of Seattle to fulfill his potential.
What’s Next
For Seattle, this opens another international roster spot and generates transfer revenue that can be reinvested. With their aging core, roster flexibility matters more than holding onto fringe players.
Necaxa’s betting on development over immediate production. At 22, Leyva still has runway to become the player Seattle thought they were getting in 2019.
Sometimes the best thing for everyone is knowing when to move on. Seven years is long enough to figure out fit — or lack thereof.
