Transfer news: Mariners defender joins MLS club

Central Coast Mariners NYL skipper Steve Whyte has signed a professional contract to play in America with Seattle Sounders FC 2.

Head here for the Mariners’ official website

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

*The Sounders are a Major League Soccer outfit, with Whyte joining their second division team after impressing during a trial in June.

*Whyte, 21, has played in the Mariners’ Foxtel National Youth League side for the last six years.

*In Seattle, he will re-unite with ex-Mariners skipper John Hutchinson, who is assistant coach

WHYTE BLOWN AWAY BY OPPORTUNITY

“This has really come out of nowhere but it’s an amazing opportunity and one that I could not turn down,” he said.

“You work hard for these opportunities and I have been lucky enough to earn this one so now I need to grab it with both hands.

“My time at the Mariners has been amazing. When I was younger I never thought, I was going to make it but I just kept working my way through the ranks.

“My main goal over there is to play, I want to play as many games as I can and hopefully impress the coaches – you never know what can happen when you’re playing well and working hard.”