Sounders sign Nigerian defender Onyekachi Apam The Sounders have added to their defensive depth, after all. The club announced the signing of Nigerian defender Onyekachi Apam on Friday, a deal that beat the Major League Soccer’s Monday afternoon roster freeze. He will be added to the roster pending the clearance of his visa. “Usually, we want to see players live or bring them in on a trial, but the way the deadline was and everything else, it was something we could get done,” Sounders coach Sigi Schmid said Friday. “There’s nobody else that’s really on our radar right now that’ll work as well, so we’ll do this. “I can’t think of another time where we’ve really done it sight unseen, but we felt it was a big opportunity.” Apam, 27, previously played for French sides Nice and Rennes and earned 14 caps with the Nigerian national team — one that has also featured current Sounders striker Obafemi Martins. Apam was also a member of the 2008 silver-medal winning national team at the Beijing Olympics. “(Martins) spoke highly of him,” Schmid said. “He’s got a good pedigree. He’s got pace, which is something we’re looking for in a central defender, as well. “We’ve had a situation this year with injuries. …We felt that was a position we could add a little depth to.” The back line depth will get another boost with return of Djimi Traore, who Schmid said was getting close to full health.