The Seattle Sounders have traded designated player Alvaro Fernandez to the Chicago Fire for allocation money, clearing the way for the potential signing of German midfielder Christian Tiffert.

Seattle traded Fernandez on Friday afternoon after acknowledging earlier that the club was in negotiations with Tiffert, who would be joining the Major League Soccer team on a transfer from Kaiserslautern.

Agent Richard Motzkin of Wasserman Media Group posted on Twitter on Friday that agency client Tiffert had signed with Seattle as a designated player. That meant something needed to be done with one of Seattle's three designated players and Fernandez was the choice to be moved. Fernandez played in 55 matches during his 2 1/2 seasons with the Sounders and scored 13 goals. He's scored twice this season.