Inter Miami’s DeAndre Yedlin aims for “warm welcome” in Seattle return

Yedlin’s ascendency in MLS prompted a transfer to the Premier League’s Tottenham Hotspur, starting a journey in Europe that concluded over the winter at Turkey’s Galatasaray. In between, other stops included Sunderland and Newcastle United in England.

But Yedlin’s origin story is undoubtedly traced back to the Seattle area, with Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer an assistant coach during his time at the club. That leaves him intimately familiar with the club’s core identity, even though it’s nearly been a decade since he became a two-time MLS All-Star there.

“One thing I know about them and it’s been true throughout all the years and is that they’re a very honest team,” Yedlin said. “It’s a team full of workers, then you add the talent that they have and it makes them a very, very good team. That’s why they’re challenging for titles every year. It’ll be a difficult game, especially playing away and playing on turf.”

That admiration was echoed by Inter Miami head coach Phil Neville, who has turned to Yedlin as a steadying veteran presence in their new-look backline and youth-filled squad. That sentiment stretches back to the Englishman’s own playing days, from when he was a defender at Premier League sides Manchester United and Everton.

“Seattle away is one where from the outside, before I entered MLS, they were always the standard-bearer,” Neville said. “When we used to come on preseason tours, Seattle were the team that most Premier League teams wanted to play. Why? Because they were the best with Freddie Ljungberg in the team and et cetera.”