match of the season in the opening game, making his first start since returning from injury, in a 2–0 loss against Burnley. Since making his return, Mears became a first team regular until he was dropped from the first team by new Manager Dougie Freedman, but managed to regain his first team place soon after. Mears then set up one of the goals on 29 December 2012, in a 3–1 win over Birmingham City. However, as the 2012–13 season progressed, Mears suffered blood infection at first and then suffered glandular fever that kept him out for the rest of the season. Despite this, Mears went on to finish the 2012–13 season, making twenty-eight appearances in all competitions. In the 2013–14 season, Mears recovered from injury and having fallen out of favor under the management of Freedman, Mears was expected to leave the club in the summer, but stayed. By August, Mears made three appearances, playing twice in the League and once in the league against Blackburn Rovers on 31 August 2013. Afterwards, Mears never made another appearance again, as he remained out of favor by Freedman throughout the season, having become the club's third choice right-back this season. At one point, Mears was set to join Blackpool on loan, but the move was in doubt, as he rejected the move. At the end of the 2013–14 season he was released by the club along with Chris Eagles, Zat Knight and Jay Lynch. Seattle Sounders FC On 29 December 2014, Mears joined Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer. Terms of the deal were not disclosed per Major League Soccer's policy. Mears made his Sounders debut, in the opening game of the season, where he set up one of the goals, in a 3–0 win over New England Revolution. For his performance, Mears was named in the MLS Team of the Week. It wasn't until on 4 July 2015 when he scored his first goal for the club, in a 1–0 win over D.C. United. Mears established himself in the right-back position throughout the season and made 37 appearances (34 in the league) in all competitions, as he helped finished fourth place in Western Conference, sixth place overall, and reach the play-offs in the semi-final. In 2016 season, Mears continued to established himself in the first team as a right-back position despite suffering from injury at the start of the season.