Paul Rothrock Bio
Paul Rothrock is an American professional soccer player who plays for Major League Soccer club Seattle Sounders FC. Born and raised in Seattle, Washington, Rothrock came through the Seattle Sounders youth system and played college soccer for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Georgetown Hoyas before turning professional.
Drafted by Toronto FC in 2021, Rothrock spent time with Toronto FC II before returning to the Seattle organization in 2023, where he moved from the Tacoma Defiance to the senior Sounders squad. Standing at 175 centimeters, he plays as a forward and is regarded as a late bloomer whose MLS debut produced an immediate scoring run.
Early Life and Background
Paul Rothrock was born on January 9, 1999, and grew up in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. He spent most of his youth career with Seattle United, a partner club of the Seattle Sounders Academy, and led the team to two Washington State Cup titles, two Far West Regional titles, and two appearances in the U.S. Youth Soccer national finals. In his U18 season, he joined the Sounders Academy, helping the squad to a third-place finish in the USSDA National Playoffs.
Rothrock attended Lakeside School in Seattle, where he was named a two-time all-state player and recorded 43 career assists. He spent several years playing alongside future Sounders teammate Jackson Ragen, having met Ragen at age seven while on a neighborhood recreational soccer team. In 2017, he was called up to a United States U18 national team camp, making one appearance for the program.
Path to Professional Soccer
On February 2, 2017, it was announced that Rothrock had signed a letter of intent to play college soccer at the University of Notre Dame. He did not play for the Fighting Irish during his freshman season and had few appearances in his sophomore year, which limited his early development at the collegiate level.
After the 2018 NCAA Division I men’s soccer season, Rothrock transferred to Georgetown University. He recorded his first assist for the Hoyas on August 30, 2019, in a 3–1 victory against Syracuse, and scored his first goal in a 5–1 win against UCLA on September 9, 2019. Following his senior season in 2020–21, which was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he decided to turn professional rather than pursue an additional year of college eligibility.
Paul Rothrock Career
Early Career (2017–2019)
Rothrock made his debut for USL club Seattle Sounders FC 2 on July 8, 2017, scoring his first goal in a 4–1 defeat to Real Monarchs. His time with the Sounders FC 2 side provided a first taste of senior-level competition while he continued to develop in the academy and at Lakeside School.
During his 2019 collegiate season with Georgetown, Rothrock also played with National Premier Soccer League side OSA Seattle FC, making three appearances. Those stints across Sounders FC 2, OSA Seattle, and the Sounders Academy helped him gain experience at multiple levels of the American soccer pyramid before the 2021 MLS SuperDraft.
Toronto FC Era (2021–2022)
Rothrock was selected in the third round of the 2021 MLS SuperDraft by Toronto FC. On May 18, 2021, he signed with their second team, Toronto FC II of USL League One, and made his debut on May 26 against FC Tucson. He scored his first goal for TFCII on October 1 against North Carolina FC and added a brace on October 17 in a 2–1 victory over Chattanooga Red Wolves SC.
On May 4, 2022, Rothrock signed a short-term four-day loan with the Toronto FC first team ahead of a Major League Soccer match against FC Cincinnati, signing an additional four-day loan on May 7. He made his MLS debut on May 8, entering as a late-game substitute, and signed another short-term loan on May 14. The Toronto period gave him his first exposure to MLS-level minutes after two seasons in the USL system.
Sounders Era (2023–Present)
In January 2023, Rothrock signed with the Tacoma Defiance, the successor to Seattle Sounders FC 2, in MLS Next Pro. Through his first three games, he assisted four of the team’s six goals, and he scored his first goal for the club on April 30 against LA Galaxy II. On April 26, 2023, he joined the Seattle Sounders first team on a short-term loan for a U.S. Open Cup match and scored on his club debut.
Rothrock signed a second short-term loan with the Sounders in May, where he again scored in another Open Cup match on May 10 against the LA Galaxy. He made his league debut for the club on May 13 and scored his first MLS goal in a 1–0 victory over the Houston Dynamo. He became the first Sounders player to score in each of his first three appearances, as well as the first player to score while on a short-term loan. In August 2023, he signed a first team contract with the Sounders for the remainder of the 2023 season, with club options for 2024 and 2025, having led Tacoma in goals and assists throughout the 2023 season at the time of his signing.
Driving Style and Strengths
Rothrock operates primarily as a forward who combines quick attacking movement with a steady finishing touch in and around the penalty area. His time across the Sounders academy, college ranks, USL sides, and the Tacoma Defiance shaped a player comfortable linking midfield and attack. Short-term loan spells with the Sounders first team highlighted his composure in front of goal and his ability to translate limited minutes into immediate production.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his most notable achievements, Rothrock became the first Sounders player to score in each of his first three appearances for the club and the first to score while on a short-term loan agreement. He marked his senior Sounders debut with a goal in the U.S. Open Cup against the LA Galaxy, reinforcing his reputation as a quick-impact contributor in cup competitions.
Paul Rothrock Career Wins
Paul Rothrock’s senior club career has not yet produced a major trophy, with verified team honors limited to his time in the Seattle Sounders youth system. His most prominent honors to date stem from leading Seattle United to two Washington State Cup titles, two Far West Regional titles, and two appearances in the U.S. Youth Soccer national finals during his youth career.
Club and Youth Highlights
At the club level, Rothrock has registered goals and assists across the USL Championship, USL League One, National Premier Soccer League, MLS Next Pro, U.S. Open Cup, and Major League Soccer. His first professional goal came for Seattle Sounders FC 2 on July 8, 2017, his first Toronto FC II goal came on October 1, 2021, and his first MLS goal arrived in the 1–0 win over the Houston Dynamo on May 13, 2023.
His U.S. Open Cup performances for the Sounders, including goals against the LA Galaxy in 2023, have been among his headline showings. Beyond the senior setup, he represented the United States at the U18 level in 2017, adding an international camp appearance to his résumé.
Other Performances
Rothrock’s three appearances with National Premier Soccer League side OSA Seattle FC during 2019 and his USL Championship outings for Seattle Sounders FC 2 gave him early professional experience in the Seattle system. He has also featured in MLS Next Pro for the Tacoma Defiance, where he led the team in goals and assists during the early months of the 2023 season before his first-team contract with the Sounders.
Paul Rothrock Family
Family Background and Soccer Lineage
Rothrock grew up in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood, where he was raised in the local community. His formative years were shaped by the city’s youth soccer environment, particularly through Seattle United and the Sounders Academy, which provided the foundation for his development. He met Jackson Ragen, who would later become a Sounders teammate, while playing for a neighborhood recreational team as a child, underscoring the long-standing nature of his local soccer connections.
Personal Life
Rothrock currently resides in Seattle, Washington. He attended Lakeside School, where he was a two-time all-state player and notched 43 career assists. Public details about his parents, partner, spouse, and children are not on the public record at this time.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 MLS season, Paul Rothrock remains part of the Seattle Sounders FC first team, holding a club option that runs through the 2025 campaign. His emergence during the 2023 season, when he set club records by scoring in each of his first three appearances, established him as a depth option capable of contributing in both league and U.S. Open Cup matches.
The 2025 season presents an opportunity for Rothrock to build on that momentum and compete for a larger attacking role within the Sounders squad. His pathway from the Tacoma Defiance to a short-term loan, and then a first-team contract, suggests a continued focus on development through MLS Next Pro minutes when needed. Consistency in front of goal and continued integration with the first team will likely shape his storyline in 2025.
With the Sounders aiming to remain competitive in the Western Conference and the U.S. Open Cup, Rothrock’s mix of cup-scoring form and MLS experience makes him a versatile piece of the rotation. His progress from youth standout in Seattle to a contracted MLS forward reflects steady growth, and the 2025 campaign will test how far that trajectory can carry him.