SEATTLE - The Seattle Sounders have signed University of Denver midfielder Jordan Schweitzer to a homegrown player contract.

Seattle announced Schweitzer's signing Thursday. From Everett, Washington, he played for the Sounders' academy as a youth before becoming a three-time all-Summit League first-team selection during his career at Denver.

Playing as a central midfielder, the 21-year-old Schweitzer started 70 of 73 games in his college career. He was named first-team all-West Region this past season as a senior when the Pioneers won their second consecutive Summit League championship and were unbeaten in their first 18 matches before falling in the NCAA tournament.

Seattle coach Sigi Schmid says the club has followed Schweitzer's college career closely and that he understands distribution, positional play and passing.