At long last, local soccer fans can collectively breathe a sigh of relief.

The Seattle Sounders FC introduced Jordan Morris as the newest member of the club Thursday morning at the Ninety in Seattle. Finally, after a couple years of speculation where the homegrown talent’s career would take him next, Morris officially put it all to rest, donning the Sounders’ blue and green in a tweeted photo.

“The only way I could describe it is as a dream come true,” Morris told the Reporter. “I’m excited to get on the field in front of these amazing fans.”

From left, Seattle Sounders owner Adrian Hanauer, general manager and president of soccer Garth Lagerwey, Jordan Morris, head coach Sigi Schmid, and sporting director Chris Henderson debut Morris’ no. 13 Sounders jersey (Joe Livarchik/Staff Photo).

Morris, a member of the U.S. men’s national team and a former standout at Mercer Island High School, wrapped a career season at Stanford University this past winter. Last December, he led the Cardinal to the program’s first-ever national championship. Earlier this month, Morris won the NCAA MAC Hermann Trophy, the highest individual intercollegiate award administered by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

He recently spent a week on trial with the German sports club Werder Bremen, fueling speculation he’d begin his professional career overseas. But Morris returned to the U.S. without signing a contract with the German club.

“It was a good experience,” Morris said of his time with Werder Bremen. “But it kind of reaffirmed my belief that I wanted to play in my hometown and play in front of 45,000 fans at Century Link.”

Mercer Island High School boys soccer coach Colin Rigby was an assistant under Steve Newman when Morris helped lead the Islanders to the 3A state final in 2012. Rigby said he knew right away great things were in store for Morris on the soccer field.

“I was talking to my MIFC U12 boys team and told them [Thursday] was such a historic moment. I mentioned [Jordan’s] name and the kids already knew who he was,” Rigby said. “He’s solidified himself as a local legend and someone to look up to for the young kids on Mercer Island. There are very few communities that provide such leadership and such a great role model to try and follow.”

The Sounders billed Thursday’s press conference as a “special” press event, giving few details, though U.S. men’s national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann let the cat out of the bag, so to speak, in an interview with ESPN FC on Wednesday. Klinsmann said he was “thrilled that Jordan decided to go pro,” and that he was “thrilled with the Sounders,” that Morris would go into an environment he was comfortable with and best for him.

“I guess there’s no mystery here,” Sounders owner Adrian Hanauer acknowledged to a few chuckles to kick off the press conference.

Hanauer called the addition of Morris “an early birthday present,” as well as a great moment for the Sounders and a great moment for Major League Soccer. He admitted to being more emotional with Morris’s signing, saying signing Morris was a 10-year process, one that at times, could be frustrating.

“We certainly wanted to sign Jordan before today, but Jordan made a commitment to Stanford University, made a commitment to his teammates and to his coaches,” he said. “About every six months, we would try to test that commitment and integrity and character, and he was consistent and steadfast in what he had committed to.”

While Morris’s decision to pursue his college career and his recent trial overseas with Werder Bremen didn’t ease concerns of those in the Sounders organization, Morris said Hanauer and Schmid, as well as Klinsmann, were understanding every step of the way.

Morris said he had “unfinished business” after his sophomore year at Stanford. Winning a national championship helped guide Morris to his next step. And when the time came, Morris knew where he wanted to go. He grew up a Sounders fan, and his family still lives on Mercer Island.

“I just felt like it was the right time for me to leave college,” Morris told the Reporter. “That decision wasn’t easy, obviously. It was hard to leave such an amazing place like Stanford [and] leave my teammates, but I felt like I was ready to do that and then it was just a decision on where to go. This was my home, this was my family. I guess that was the main thing that drew me to Seattle and I knew that it was going to be a comfortable environment for me to learn and to continue to grow as a player. I’m just real excited to be here.”

Amidst all the media photos and interviews, Morris managed to get a photo op with his family (Joe Livarchik/Staff Photo).

Morris’s ties to the Sounders run fairly deep. He came up through the organization, joining the Sounders Academy for the 2012-13 season. His father, Dr. Michael Morris, is a team physician.

In November, Seattle Sounders general manager and president of soccer Garth Lagerwey confirmed to media outlets that the Sounders had offered Morris the richest Homegrown Player contract in MLS history. Lagerwey reiterated as much at Thursday’s press conference, though terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“It’s more than just a player signing,” Hanauer said, “it’s someone who’s grown up in the Sounders family.”

When asked where Morris ranks among great U.S. soccer players, Sounders head coach Sigi Schmid took a moment before answering that it comes down to the skills Morris has displayed so far in his career along with the commitment to furthering his development on the pitch.

“He’s got qualities that I think are unteachable qualities, or qualities that sometimes I’ve tried to teach a player and it just never becomes ingrained or a natural part of his game,” Schmid said. “When you have that, and you have the commitment to go with it and the dedication to go with it, you can go a long way. But at the end of the day, you can never predict how far that road will go because that’s constantly a work in progress.”

Schmid made no promises in regards to Morris’s playing time during his inaugural campaign, but added the team may switch to a three-forward formation.

When asked if Morris’s signing was a bellwether moment for American soccer, Lagerwey promptly responded yes. But as for historical implications the signing would have on U.S. soccer, the Sounders GM said only time will tell.

“He made his choice and that is good for our league and that is good for our team,” Lagerwey said. “I think history will write whether or not this was a big moment, and that will depend on how Jordan performs on the field. We’ll let that play on.”