RENTON — Léo Chú will miss 3-4 weeks after suffering an adductor strain in the Seattle Sounders’ 2-0 loss to Real Salt Lake on Wednesday. Chú suffered the injury around the 17th minute, planting his leg awkwardly after making a cross. He was able to remain on the field for a few more minutes before being removed in the 22nd minute.
This is the second injury Chú has suffered this year, having previously missed five games with a knee-tendon strain. He has played in seven of the Sounders’ 13 matches, logging a goal and an assist in 328 minutes.
Chú came into this season with a somewhat uncertain role, despite a solid 2023 in which he had five goals and seven primary assists, as he faced significant competition for starter’s minutes. The 24-year-old winger had looked promising enough that Brazilian powerhouse Fluminense made a transfer offer that was reportedly valued at $4 million, only to pull it before the Sounders had a chance to officially respond.
When healthy, Chú has shown flashes of his old form, but a variety of issues have kept him from playing as much as 45 minutes in consecutive games since he returned from injury on April 27.
Pedro de la Vega in line to make return
Pedro de la Vega will be available for Saturday’s game against the Vancouver Whitecaps, which would be his first action since leaving the Austin FC match on March 2 with a hamstring injury. Initially believed to serious enough to keep him out 6-8 weeks, de la Vega then suffered another setback when he was due to make his return.
When asked how much de la Vega would play this week, Schmetzer quipped “hopefully a lot” before clarifying that the midfielder will be on a time limit.
The Young Designated Player’s transfer was the centerpiece move of the Sounders’ offseason, but he has so far played in just two games. He scored a penalty in his debut and followed that up with 62 minutes in a start before suffering the injury.
Other injury updates
- Obed Vargas (calf) and Raúl Ruidíaz (foot) were both held out of the RSL match but should be fully available against the Whitecaps.
- Josh Atencio (hamstring) will miss at least one more game. Schmetzer said “it would be a miracle” if he was available for Wednesday’s U.S. Open Cup match against Phoenix Rising, but he “has a good shot” to be available against St. Louis City on May 25.
