SEATTLE -- Clint Dempsey waited on the small stage at midfield. Finally he unzipped his sweatshirt and made official a surprising career move. Dempsey is leaving behind the Premier League to play for the Seattle Sounders. Dempsey was introduced as the newest designated player for the Sounders on Saturday night prior to Seattles match against FC Dallas. It concluded a whirlwind 48 hours of rumours and speculation that Dempsey was leaving Tottenham Hotspur and returning to Major League Soccer. ESPN first reported Friday that a transfer was imminent and Tottenham confirmed Dempseys move back to MLS early Saturday. Terms of Dempseys deal were not announced by the club. "This is a historic day for Sounders FC and our fans," Sounders majority owner Joe Roth said in a release. "Clint is a world-class soccer player who can take this club to a higher level. We have been consistent in our message to the fans that we will spare no expense to win trophies." Dempsey was expected to address the reasons behind his move during a press conference scheduled for Monday. The 30-year-old Dempsey played for the New England Revolution from 2004-06 before joining Fulham in 2007. He moved to Tottenham last summer and scored 12 goals in 43 games, but wasnt a regular. The move is surprising as Dempsey is giving up a chance to play in one of the top leagues in the world in the prime of his career and a year before the World Cup in Brazil. "I was a little bit surprised about it, sure. Because it is an interesting step career wise at a point in time where you would kind of maybe question that," former U.S. national team goalkeeper and current Sounders TV analyst Kasey Keller said before Saturdays announcement. "But when you look more at the details and who is involved and what were talking about financially it all kind of comes into place." There were signs Seattle was on the verge of making a big splash before the international transfer window closed. The Sounders cleared one of their three designated player slots earlier this week when midfielder Shalrie Joseph restructured his contract to no longer be counted as a designated player. The team website also asked fans to arrive early to Saturday nights game against FC Dallas for what the club called a "special presentation." At 7:26 p.m., a video chronicling Dempseys career highlights played on the CenturyLink Field video board and moments later he revealed his new rave green jersey. "I think well accomplish some great things here, so thank you," Dempsey told the roaring fans. Dempsey raved about Seattle when the city hosted the U.S. against Panama in a World Cup qualifier in June. "Its great to see the game is building and there are markets like this where people have so much passion for the game," he said then. A star for the U.S. national team, Dempsey wasnt a regular in Andre Villas-Boas starting lineup with Tottenham. Even so, his move is somewhat surprising because Tottenham could also lose forward Gareth Bale this off-season to Real Madrid. One of the most successful Americans to play in Englands top league, Dempsey was first sold from the Revolution to Fulham in 2007. Dempsey spent five years playing at Craven Cottage, where he scored 50 goals in 184 league appearances and became a fan favourite. Last year with Tottenham, Dempsey scored seven goals in 29 Premier League matches, scored three times in two FA Cup matches and had two more goals in 10 other games. As his stock in Europe rose, so did Dempseys role on his national team. Hes played in eight games in 2013 for the United States and scored five times. His next international appearance for the Americans will be his 100th, and hes served as the U.S. captain most of this year when Landon Donovan was out. Dempsey came to England as an attacking midfielder but has developed into a potent forward in recent seasons, starting up front for the U.S. too. Outside of CenturyLink Field on Saturday, fans were already buzzing about Dempseys arrival prior to the official announcement. At retailers around the stadium, custom Sounders jerseys with "Dempsey" across the back and No. 2 were being printed with regularity all afternoon in both versions of Seattles jersey. During the pregame march near the stadium, fans chanted "Deuce upside the head, I said Deuce upside the head," and carried head shots of Dempsey attached to sticks. "Major League Soccer is thrilled to have Clint Dempsey, arguably one of the best players the United States has ever produced, return to the league to play for the Sounders," MLS Commissioner Don Garber said in a statement. "Clint could have played in any league throughout the world, and he chose MLS and the Sounders. Our vision is to become one of the best leagues in the world, and we look forward to Clint being a part of that legacy." Tigers Jerseys China . -- Charline Labonte couldnt have asked for a better homecoming. Custom Detroit Tigers Jerseys . Perhaps Carroll was so prepared for a break because he believes there is very little the Seattle Seahawks need heading into the off-season. "I dont see anything that we need to add. We just have to get better," Carroll said. https://www.cheaptigers.com/ . Jane Virtanen scored two, and Alex Roach and Elliott Peterson rounded out the offence for the Hitmen (40-15-6). Brady Brassart chipped in with three assists. Colton McCarthy scored twice, Brayden Point had a goal and two assists, and Jack Rodewald also scored for the Warriors (15-35-9), who were 2 for 5 on the power play. Tigers Jerseys 2020 . According to a report from the Vancouver Province, the Lions are expected to replace former DC Rich Stubler with defensive backs coach Mark Washington. Detroit Tigers Store . Down by seven with 90 seconds left in regulation, thats where they looked comfortable. THE 13 EVENTSMens weight categories (10)Light fly (46-49kg), Fly (up to 52kg), Bantam (up to 56kg), Light (up to 60kg), Light welter (up to 64kg), Welter (up to 69kg), Middle (up to 75kg), Light heavy (up to 81kg), Heavy (up to 91kg), Super heavy (over 91kg)Womens weight categories (3)Fly (48-51kg), Light (57-60kg), Middle (69-75 kg)THE FORMATIn each category: qualifying, quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.MILESTONES668 BCBare-knuckle fighting appears at the Ancient Games.1745Jack Broughton takes the first step towards reforming the brutal sport of bare-knuckle boxing, by codifying a set of rules.1904Boxing makes its Olympic debut at the 1904 Games in St. Louis.1956Hungarian Laszlo Papp becomes the first boxer to win three Olympic titles, in middleweight (1948) and light middleweight (1952, 1956).1980Cuban heavyweight Teofilo Stevenson becomes the first boxer to win three consecutive Olympic titles in the same category (1972, 11976 and 1980).dddddddddddd2012Womens boxing is introduced at the London Games.STARSSugar Ray Robinson (United States)A 25-year career! World champion in the welterweight division between 1946 and 1951, and then middleweight champion in 1951, and again from 1955 to 1958. 174 victories in 199 fights.Rocky Marciano (United States)The only unbeaten champion. He held the world heavyweight title between 1952 and 1956 and was unbeaten in 49 professional fights. He won 43 by knockout.Muhammad Ali / Cassius Clay (United States)The greatest. Olympic light heavyweight champion as an 18-year-old in 1960, under the name of Cassius Clay. World heavyweight champion: 22 title fights between 1964 to 1967, and then 1974 to 1978. 56 wins in 61 fights. Born provocative, he converted to Islam and changed his name in 1964. ' ' '