College Soccer
Penn defender Leo Burney signs homegrown contract with Seattle Sounders FC
From the Quakers back to the Sounders, University of Pennsylvania senior defender Leo Burney has signed a homegrown contract with his hometown Seattle Sounders FC.
Burney, a Seattle native, started 69 games for the Quakers, earning first team All-Ivy League each of his four seasons in University City while winning Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 and 2024. Ballard anchored a Quaker defense that won three straight regular season Ivy League titles and was named second team All-American twice in his college career.
During summer breaks from college, Burney returned to the Seattle area to play for USL League Two team Ballard FC, helping the team win the league championship in 2023 and a pair of Northwest Division titles.
Burney is the first from the program to sign a pro deal since Ben Stitz signed on with FC Cincinnati 2 ahead of the 2023 MLS Next Pro season. He was drafted in the MLS SuperDraft by DC United. Classmate Stas Korzeniowski was drafted by the Philadelphia Union last year but returned for the fall.
Former Ivy League Defender of the Year Alex Touche signed with New Mexico United out of Penn in 2021. Penn alum Duke Lacroix recently won the USL Championship title with Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC.
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