Peter Kingston grew up as a Sounders fan, playing soccer in Kirkland with his dad from the moment he could kick a ball. The midfielder showed promise early on and had colleges looking to sign him.
While many Major League Soccer players skip collegiate soccer and are signed as teens, Kingston took a less conventional path, making his way through multiple colleges and other local teams.
The college soccer to MLS track is not a common one, but it’s not impossible, as Kingston and a few other Seattle players have proven.
“I joined my first soccer team when I was 8 years old,” Kingston said. “My first memories of playing soccer are with my dad though, probably around 2 or 3 years old.”
Kingston grew up as a Sounders fan, watching players like Fredy Montero, Nico Lodeiro, and his current teammates Jordan Morris and Stephan Frei.
“The first game I ever attended was the Sounders vs Barcelona in 2009,” Kingston said. He was only 8 at the time, and was already dreaming of playing with his hometown team.
During high school, he was scouted by a few colleges, including the University of Washington.
He ended up at Seattle University with his best friend but later transferred to UW as a senior in 2023.
“A dream come true of mine was to play at UW and when the right time came, it happened,” Kingston said.
After graduating, he played for semi-pro teams Tacoma Defiance and Ballard FC before being signed to the Sounders as a midfielder on April 3, 2026. Tacoma Defiance is the MLS next-pro team where many Sounders find their start. Ballard FC is a newer addition to the Seattle soccer team that is semi-professional.
“He’s been consistent in training, taken coaching well and made the most of his opportunities with both Tacoma Defiance and the First Team.” Sounders Head Coach Brian Schmetzer said. “He’s stepped in with confidence when called upon and shown he belongs at this level. We’re excited to fully integrate him into our group and see how he can continue to help the team.”
Peter Kingston plays midfield against the San Jose Earthquakes at Lumen Field. (Max Aquino)
A year before Kingston, another UW player signed with the Sounders, Kalani Kossa-Rienzi. The right-back defender signed with the Seattle team on March 10, 2025.
“I played with him for a year, but I kinda knew him before that just ‘cause Seattle sports is pretty small and he was at Seattle U, who are our rivals,” Kossa-Rienzi said. “So I played against him a good amount and then when he came to UW, that’s when we became better friends.”
Like Kingston, Kossa-Rienzi described playing collegiate soccer with gratitude and an edge of uncertainty about where he might end up playing after college. He also found himself at Tacoma Defiance the year before he was signed to The Sounders.
“Something I’ve realized — especially coming from a Seattle college team to a Seattle professional team is that there’s so much that can help you with getting to the next team,” Kossa-Rienzi said. “The soccer community is really small and you don’t realize it until you’re in the middle of it.”
Kossa-Rienzi and Kingston became fast friends and amiable colleagues at UW.
“As a person, [Peter] is super energetic,” Kossa-Rienzi said. “He’s super talkative and engaging. He loves to learn and he loves to compete … He’s a very hard worker and honestly is similar to me — kind of thrives off of the little things.”
Kossa-Rienzi was brought to the team with similar attributes to Kingston – a young player at UW with plenty to show off. While those attributes are beneficial during recruiting, they don’t fit as well once you’re on a pro team.
“I remember he used to be a really flashy player but now he’s become more of a simple player which I think [happens] when you go pro. A lot of people have to kinda slow their game down a little bit because the same things don’t work.”
UW Men’s Soccer Coach Jamie Clark talked about how things weren’t always easy or certain for Kingston.
“He was uniquely driven to play for the Sounders,” Clark said. “While he is a great spirit, and lighthearted, and always happy, there is a determination about him.” As Kingston moved through local teams, his mind never left the goal of reaching the Sounders.
Clark said that single-minded determination led to some frustration during the waiting process. And while Clark offered some other options for Kingston, he stayed true to Seattle and was convinced it would work out eventually.
“I called other places and he was like ‘No. I’m going to bet on myself and I’m going to Seattle and I’ll go into preseason and earn myself a contract’,” Clark said, adding that he believes Kingston was the best player on Ballard FC and truly deserved a chance in the MLS.
“I think it was hard for a little while to understand why he wasn’t getting [a spot.] You know, you look to the left and you look right and you see other guys who are not as good as him getting options,” Clark said.
Peter Kingston plays defense for the Seattle Sounders at Lumen Field. (Max Aquino)
His college coach and his teammate say the experience made him a stronger player and helped him mature. People want their career experience to be linear and easy, but Clark asks, isn’t this a better story?
Kingston generally plays midfield for the Sounders, a position that has been held by World Cup contender Cristian Roldan for the past 11 years. Obed Vargas has been the other starter in the midfield for the past five years, but was recently signed to Atlético Madrid, leaving a space for another young player to fill.
“It’s tough for him to walk in and just take a starting spot,” Kossa-Rienzi said. “But I think one of the best things he can do is come in and be an impact player off the bench. Whether it’s 15 minutes … 30 minutes, but just come in and win a couple balls, connect a couple passes — nothing flashy, but kind of the dirty work that nobody necessarily really wants to do.”
Kingston talked about the difference between playing in college and for Ballard FC and moving to Lumen Field.
“If you’ve ever played FIFA growing up,” Kingston said, laughing. “And you see the characters and stadium and stuff, it’s kinda like that but in real life.”
This story was produced as a partnership with University of Washington’s News Lab, a student news project that produces journalism in local communities in Puget Sound.
