João Paulo has agreed to return to the Seattle Sounders, with confirmation from Sounder at Heart and initial reporting by Niko Moreno.

As a free agent after the 2024 season, João Paulo expressed frustration over the negotiation process, while the Sounders viewed him primarily as a depth player for their upcoming busy season.

After deliberating on his future and considering interest from other Major League Soccer (MLS) teams, the Sounders finalized the contract.

João Paulo originally joined the Sounders in 2020 on loan from Botafogo and became a permanent player in 2021, establishing himself as a top two-way player in MLS.

Although he returned in 2023, he has faced ongoing challenges with a chronic hip issue that has impacted his effectiveness, yet he still played in 32 matches across all competitions in 2024.

His performance was affected by an ACL injury sustained in the Concacaf Champions League final in 2022, which sidelined him for most of that season.

In 2024, João Paulo earned about $1.4 million, making him one of the Sounders' highest-paid players, but his new contract will likely reflect a reduced role moving forward.

The new agreement is for João Paulo to stay with the team at least through 2025, with compensation likely below the Targeted Allocation Money threshold, estimated to be under $750,000 in 2025.