Jesus’ Departure Should Bring Mixed Feelings for FC Dallas Fans

Tom Bogert is confirming that with all parties in agreement, the Seattle Sounders will welcome Jesus Ferreira via trade soon. Let’s give space for our feelings.

Rumors of Paul Arriola and Jesus Ferreira being picked up by fellow Western Conference foes, Seattle Sounders, has been steadily percolating for a while now.

Tom Bogert reports today that the deal is essentially done, with all three parties coming to terms on a package that is a win/win/win.

Jesus Ferreira will get a new contract, probably not at the DP level (unless it can be bought down), Seattle welcomes an in-prime striker who still has upside to deepen their roster with a tough schedule in 2025, and FC Dallas will get some GAM, winger Leo Chu (who may get sold soon), and an international spot.

But first, let’s create some space for FC Dallas fans to feel whatever it is they want to feel about this move.

It’s okay if you have mixed feelings about the deal.

On one hand, Jesus Ferreira represents the culmination of what FC Dallas has been building - an academy that produces not just high quality talent for the United States Men’s National Team or the international market (like Ricardo Pepi and Weston McKennie) but also for their own fans. Threading that needle was never going to be easy and was going to take time. They’ve had their misses (Alex Zendejas, for example), and sometimes, players need a change of venue to fulfill their potential (see Kellyn Acosta). The FC Dallas project is a difficult, complex dance between needed patience to give guys opportunity to develop, the right timing to build around young players with key veterans, and figuring out market values that make sense when it comes time to sell. Jesus will end his run with FC Dallas as the league and team’s first homegrown Designated Player and some amazing play that pushed him into the most recent World Cup squad. He will forever be a club legend. We are and should be sad to see him go.

On the other hand, Jesus Ferreira has been ready to leave for a while now, reportedly getting a deal to Russia scuttled by the league offices because of rightful political concerns. There are rumors of other offers, but most were likely not good enough to even be considered. Jesus’ own injury status and up and down play last year hasn’t been a big help to his value equation either. It’s tricky. Most US players in Major League Soccer would desire to play abroad but that doesn’t mean there are suitors willing to pay. And, per some inside sources, Jesus, while not a toxic locker room presence, has room to grow in his professional habits, especially after practice. He’s still young and maybe missing the experience earlier in his career of moving out of his comfort zone left him unchallenged.

And finally, FC Dallas is in yet another rebuilding effort, when they should have probably built around the league’s first ever homegrown Designated Player and be steadily pushing for more hardware on a regular basis. There are rightful questions over whether Jesus fits in with Eric Quill’s play approach.

So, what do you do these mix of desires?

Do you ignore all offers and hope Jesus catches fire again and remains happy in Frisco, even if he is ready and vocal about making a move?

Or do you take this best offer right now as a win for the player and use those funds to rebuild a team that was outside of the playoff picture in 2025?

FC Dallas has come to peace with moving him along and trusting in the next set of players to emerge as stars in their long running project.

No doubt, Jesus at least relishes the chance to play in a different environment with strong talent and a great head coach, testing himself at another level with additional competitions next year.

And heck, if Seattle gets Jesus in a better mental picture, maybe he grabs another World Cup roster spot and scintillates in front of a world stage.

But yeah, right now, it’s okay to feel weird about this. It’s okay to grieve.