[MLS TRANSACTIONS] The deal that the Seattle Sounders made to send Jeff Parke to the Philadelphia was a win-win situation for both Parke and Sounders. Parke got his wish and returned to his hometown, while the Sounders got salary cap relief, along with allocation money and a 2013 first-round Supplemental Draft pick from the Union, for their Defender of the Year in 2011 and 2012.

Parke, 30, is a native of Abington, Pa., and played college soccer at Drexel. He led area soccer power Downingtown West High School to back-to-back PIAA state championships and played for Union youth affiliate, FC Delco.

He appeared in 39 of 48 matches across all competitions in 2012.  He made 78 regular-season appearances in three seasons for Seattle and has 210 MLS appearances during his nine-year career.

Prior to joining the Sounders, Parke was a five-year starter for New York, where he was named the club's 2007 Defender of the Year.

He is one of MLS's great overachievers, having been selected with the last pick (60th overall) in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft.