SEATTLE, Wash. – Seattle Sounders FC 2 announced on Thursday that the club had signed defender Steve Whyte. A 21-year-old from Australia's Central Coast Mariners Academy, Whyte reunites with S2 Assistant Coach John Hutchinson, who joined S2 prior to the 2017 season after previously playing and coaching with the A-League's Mariners. He is set to arrive in Seattle next week.

"We are very pleased Coach Hutchinson was able to connect the club with Steve," Sounders FC Director of Player Personnel Kurt Schmid said. "He brings talent to our group of left-backs, which is an area we identified that needed improvement."

Whyte has spent the past six seasons with Central Coast Mariners' academy system, where he served as captain of the A-League team's youth sides. He also starred in the Foxtel National Youth League team for one season. The defender has spent the past two years performing under the direction of Mariners Academy Head Coach Ben Cahn, who connected Whyte with Hutchinson.

"When Steve trialed with us, we immediately saw his potential," said Hutchinson. "We're glad he decided to come over and see what he can do in our organization."