RENTON, Wash. — The Seattle Sounders will lose midfielder João Paulo to an ACL tear in his right knee for second time in three years. He tore it in Wednesday's practice and his season is over.
It's the same knee that he tore his ACL in a CONCACAF Champions League match against Pumas in May of 2022.
“We are gutted for him,” Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer said. "J.P. has to process some of this because he's taking it pretty hard."
He started rehabilitating the injury on Saturday. Paulo and the Sounders are waiting on a doctor to schedule surgery.
Paulo has been mainly used as a reserve this season. He's started only three games this year.
The Sounders signed him this past off-season to a one-year contract for $625,000 with club option. His future in Seattle seems murky after two ACL surgeries in 3 years.