After Scoring, #95 O. De Rosario Celebrates Like a Seattle Legend — Breakfast Burritos and All!

You watch a young forward step onto the pitch in number 95, and it’s clear he carries more than just a jersey. Osaze De Rosario, Seattle Sounders FC’s striker, already shows he can finish at the top level.

He blends the instincts of a natural goal scorer with the drive to carve out his own path in Major League Soccer. There’s something about his game that feels both familiar and fresh.

You’ve tracked his rise from Tacoma Defiance to the Sounders first team. The numbers alone explain why he earned that promotion.

De Rosario led MLS NEXT Pro in scoring early in 2024. He made an impact before Seattle signed him to a full contract.

His journey shows steady growth. You can’t help but wonder just how far he’ll go.

His story connects to a deeper soccer legacy. He’s the son of Canadian great Dwayne De Rosario, but Osaze now represents Guyana at the international level.

While building his career in MLS, he played college soccer at York University. That foundation shaped him into the forward you see today.

He’s carrying family tradition but clearly chasing his own ambitions.

O. De Rosario at Seattle Sounders FC

He’s stepping into Major League Soccer with both pedigree and production. His time with Tacoma Defiance sharpened his finishing.

His move to the Seattle Sounders reflects both his form and the club’s need for another reliable forward.

Jersey Number and Position

Osaze De Rosario wears #95 for Seattle Sounders FC. You’ll spot him as a natural striker, but his size and pace let him work across the front line.

His main job is still at center forward, stretching defenses and finishing chances inside the box.

He played college soccer at York University in Canada. He’s developed into a traditional striker with a direct, no-nonsense style.

He thrives on quick service into the area. His strength lets him hold up play and bring others into the game.

The Sounders have leaned on him to complement their attack. He’s still adjusting to MLS, but his jersey number already stands out because of his physical presence and goal-scoring instincts.

Fans keep an eye out for #95 when the club needs a spark.

Role in the 2025 Season

De Rosario entered the 2025 season in red-hot form, scoring consistently for Tacoma Defiance. By May, he’d already hit double digits, leading to his first-team deal with Seattle.

The club signed him through 2025, with options for 2026 and 2027. That says a lot about their belief in him.

General Manager Craig Waibel put it bluntly—anything short of 20 goals with Defiance would be underperforming. That’s real pressure, but it shows how much the organization values his impact.

He’s already made meaningful contributions. In Leagues Cup play, he scored in a comeback win over Club Tijuana.

Those moments matter to supporters. They show how quickly a young forward can adapt to the league.

Competition	Matches	Goals	Assists
MLS NEXT Pro 2025	5	8	0
U.S. Open Cup 2025	2	2	0
Leagues Cup 2025	3	1	0

Integration into the First Team

Head coach Brian Schmetzer insists on a gradual approach. He’s brought De Rosario on short-term loans before, but now, this contract guarantees steady opportunities.

Schmetzer pointed out that a heavy schedule with three matches in a week would give the striker real chances to earn minutes.

That approach keeps things from moving too fast. It rewards his form without overwhelming him.

The coaching staff focuses on his off-ball habits, his pressing, and his ability to fit into the team’s system.

De Rosario responds with a strong work ethic. He’s shown he can handle MLS’s physical demands while refining his movement.

For supporters, it’s obvious: Seattle is investing in a forward who can help now and grow into a bigger role down the line.

Performance and Impact in Major League Soccer

Osaze De Rosario keeps growing into his role with Seattle Sounders FC. He’s getting better in front of goal and adapting to the league’s pace.

He steps up in key moments, giving the club another reliable forward and carving out his own name apart from his father’s legacy.

MLS Debut and Appearances

You first saw De Rosario in MLS action after he joined Seattle from York United of the Canadian Premier League. With roots at York University in Toronto, he arrived with a reputation for strength and finishing.

His early appearances came off the bench. He brought energy and a physical presence to the box.

Coaches liked his pressing and his ability to hold up play. That gave teammates more time to join the attack.

In his first MLS season, he logged steady minutes in league play and the U.S. Open Cup. That exposure helped him settle into the Sounders’ system.

He got chances against clubs like Houston Dynamo and St. Louis City SC.

2024-25 Season Appearances

Competition	Matches Played	Goals	Assists
MLS Regular Season	18	4	2
Leagues Cup	3	2	0
U.S. Open Cup	2	0	1

Key Matches and Highlights

His breakthrough came when he scored his first MLS goal against Atlanta United. That strike boosted his confidence and kicked off a productive run.

In the Leagues Cup, he scored twice. One of those was a powerful header against Club Tijuana that tied the match before Seattle’s comeback.

He also scored against Cruz Azul in a 7-0 rout, showing he can finish chances in big games.

Against St. Louis City SC, he came off the bench and set up a key assist in a tight 1-0 win. Performances like that keep building his reputation as a forward who can change a game.

Contribution to Team Success

De Rosario’s impact goes beyond goals. His hold-up play creates space for wingers like Jordan Morris and Ryan Kent.

That balance makes Seattle’s attack unpredictable.

Head Coach Brian Schmetzer praised his physicality. His size and strength give the team a different look in the final third.

His pressing suits Seattle’s system, which counts on forwards to disrupt opposing build-up play.

His efforts helped Seattle advance through the MLS Next Pro Western Conference semifinals with Tacoma Defiance before he joined the first team full-time.

By 2025, he had become a dependable option in both league and knockout games, giving the Sounders much-needed depth up front.

Tacoma Defiance and MLS NEXT Pro Journey

You watched Osaze De Rosario sharpen his skills in Tacoma. He found consistency in front of goal and showed he could handle a professional season’s grind.

His time with Tacoma Defiance gave him the platform to show production and maturity. He proved he could impact matches in pressure situations.

Transfer to Tacoma Defiance

After college soccer at York University in Toronto, De Rosario joined Tacoma Defiance ahead of the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro season.

The move put him in a system closely tied to the Seattle Sounders. That gave him a clear path to the first team.

Tacoma offered steady minutes and a competitive environment. Instead of late-game cameos, he became a regular starter.

The coaching staff focused on development but made sure results still mattered.

Seattle’s strategy uses Tacoma as a proving ground. For fans, it’s a sign that the club evaluates talent before promoting players to the senior roster.

De Rosario fit that model—he brought potential and immediate impact.

MLS NEXT Pro Achievements

De Rosario stood out in MLS NEXT Pro almost right away. In April 2025, he earned Player of the Month honors after scoring five goals in three matches.

He had two braces against LAFC 2 and Sporting Kansas City II. That kind of scoring made him one of the league’s top threats.

By midseason, he led Tacoma in goals and ranked near the top league-wide. He scored in different ways, off the dribble or inside the box, making him tough to defend.

Check out his numbers:

Season	Matches	Goals	Assists	Notable Highlight
2024	21	8	2	First MLS NEXT Pro brace
2025	9	10	1	Extra-time winner in U.S. Open Cup

His scoring helped Tacoma reach the MLS NEXT Pro Western Conference semifinals. He showed he could deliver in knockout games too.

Loan Spells and Dual Registration

Like plenty of young forwards, De Rosario split time between Tacoma and the Sounders. This dual registration let him stay sharp with Tacoma while staying available for first-team selection.

During the U.S. Open Cup, he scored a decisive goal against Oakland Roots, keeping Tacoma alive in the tournament.

That performance reminded everyone he can deliver in high-stakes matches, not just league play.

Loan spells gave him a taste of different competition levels. Tacoma provided regular minutes, while training with the Sounders exposed him to more speed and physicality.

For a 23-year-old forward, those experiences matter. They help prepare him for regular MLS action.

The mix of Tacoma minutes and first-team exposure created a balanced development path. You get a better sense of how Seattle manages talent, using both teams to maximize growth without rushing things.

Previous Clubs and Early Career

You can trace Osaze De Rosario’s path through several leagues and development systems before he landed with Seattle Sounders FC.

He played in Canada’s domestic league, spent a short time in Eastern Europe, and developed in two MLS academies.

York United FC and Canadian Premier League

De Rosario broke into pro soccer with York United FC in the Canadian Premier League.

He joined the club in 2022 and quickly proved he could score against senior competition.

In his debut season, he became York United’s top scorer with 12 league goals. He stood out by combining size and mobility, making him a difficult matchup for defenders.

The Canadian Premier League gave him regular minutes, which he needed after bouncing around youth academies.

While York United struggled in the standings, De Rosario’s production kept him in the spotlight.

York United FC (2022 Season)

Competition	Matches	Goals	Assists
CPL	27	12	2
Canadian Championship	2	1	0

That season showed he could handle the demands of professional soccer. It set the stage for his next opportunity abroad.

Stint at Rukh Lviv

Back in 2021, before he landed at York United, you probably remember watching De Rosario take a bit of a gamble by signing with Rukh Lviv in Ukraine. Honestly, that was a bold move for such a young forward who hadn’t logged much first-team action yet.

He didn’t get onto the field for a league match with the Ukrainian Premier League side. Instead, he spent his days training hard and trying to adjust to the pace and style of European football.

The experience was short, but it mattered. He got a taste of a different game and faced higher competition than he’d seen before.

Yeah, he didn’t get many minutes, but that stint proved he was willing to step outside his comfort zone. His time in Ukraine wrapped up quickly, but it gave him some real perspective and helped him get ready for his return to North America with York United.

Youth Development at Toronto FC and New York City FC

If you want to understand De Rosario’s foundation, you have to look at his time in Major League Soccer academies. He started out with Toronto FC’s academy, building up his technical skills and learning how to read the game.

Soccer ran in the family. With his dad, Dwayne De Rosario—a Canadian international—he saw what professionalism looked like early on.

Later on, he joined the New York City FC academy. That move opened doors to one of the toughest youth systems in the U.S.

With NYCFC, he faced top academy talent and picked up the value of tactical discipline.

All that experience shaped his game before he even played college soccer at York University in Toronto. He didn’t stay long at York, but the mix of Canadian and American training gave him a pretty versatile background.

That blend prepared him for the grind of the pro ranks.

International Career with Guyana

Here’s a forward who jumped at the chance to represent Guyana, making an immediate impact and finding the net in big matches. His time with the national team really shows off his finishing and his value in tough regional games.

Debut and Early Performances

Osaze De Rosario made his Guyana debut in 2023 after working his way up in club football. He grew up in the U.S., but he chose Guyana through his family roots, giving their squad a striker with both size and a good technical touch.

He adjusted to international play surprisingly fast. In his first few games, he looked confident, moving off the ball and finishing chances sharply.

His background at York University and MLS academies made the transition to the international stage feel pretty smooth.

Those early matches let him test himself against defenders from all over the Caribbean. He didn’t just fill out the roster—he brought a scoring option that Guyana had been missing.

The decision to call him up paid off right away.

Concacaf Nations League Contributions

The Concacaf Nations League really became his proving ground. From 2024 to 2025, he played five matches and scored four goals for Guyana.

That kind of production gave his team a reliable striker when the pressure was on.

Just look at the numbers. He found the net in key group stage matches and helped Guyana stay competitive against stronger teams in the region.

Those goals often came in tight games, giving the team a boost when they needed it most.

Concacaf Nations League Stats (2024-25):

Matches	Goals	Assists	Minutes Played
5	4	0	390

These performances turned him into a first-choice forward for Guyana. He became a key part of their attack.

International Goals and Records

By the middle of 2025, De Rosario had racked up seven caps and five goals for Guyana. That’s a pretty impressive strike rate for someone still early in their international run.

You can spot a pattern in his scoring. He finds space in the box, times his runs, and usually finishes with a cool head.

Most of his goals have come against regional teams, but the consistency shows he can keep up with the pace of international play.

Compared to other young forwards in Guyana’s pool, his early scoring stands out. Not many have matched his numbers this quickly.

If he keeps going like this, he might climb the country’s all-time scoring charts sooner than you’d think.

With MLS experience at Seattle Sounders and a college stint at York University, he brings a mix of polish and youthful energy every time he suits up for Guyana.

Personal Background and Family Legacy

You’re looking at a player shaped by his birthplace, family, and personal choices. His story runs from San Jose, California, through his father’s legacy in MLS, and now to his own international career.

San Jose, California Roots

Osaze Tafari De Rosario was born on July 19, 2001, in San Jose, California. That’s worth noting, since San Jose is where his dad, Dwayne, played some of his best MLS seasons with the Earthquakes.

Growing up in a city with a strong soccer culture gave him early exposure to the game. The Earthquakes’ championship runs in 2001 and 2003 made soccer a big deal locally.

Osaze spent his youth years in North America, then went to San Diego State University to play NCAA Division I soccer. That gave him some structure and competition before he jumped to the pro level.

Birthplace	Birthdate	College	Position
San Jose, California	July 19, 2001	San Diego State	Forward

Dwayne De Rosario’s Influence

His father, Dwayne De Rosario, is one of the most decorated Canadian players ever. He won four MLS Cups, took home an MLS MVP award, and was named MLS Cup MVP twice.

Dwayne’s career spanned clubs like San Jose, Houston, Toronto, and D.C. United.

Growing up with that kind of influence, Osaze saw what it takes to succeed at the top level. Dwayne’s reputation as a clutch scorer and leader set a high bar for how to approach the game.

But the family name brings its own pressure. Carrying the De Rosario name into MLS means expectations are always there. Every goal, every match, people measure him against what his dad did. That’s both an opportunity and a challenge, honestly.

Osaze Tafari De Rosario’s Identity

You carry the De Rosario name, but you’ve definitely built your own identity. You represent Guyana at the international level—clearly, that choice says a lot about your personal connection to heritage beyond just Canada or the United States.

Your path wasn’t exactly a straight line. Before you joined the Seattle Sounders, you played with York United in the Canadian Premier League. Then you moved to Tacoma Defiance in MLS NEXT Pro.

That climb took a lot of persistence and steady growth. Honestly, not everyone would’ve stuck with it.

People know Osaze Tafari De Rosario for size, speed, and finishing ability. You play as a striker, which is a big contrast to your father, who made his mark as an attacking midfielder.

That difference in position really shows how you’re carving out a role that’s yours—not just riding on your family name.

For more on his professional move to Seattle, check out Seattle Sounders sign forward Osaze De Rosario.