The Portland Timbers addressed a clear area of need on their depth chart on Tuesday with the signing of Colombian Winger Santiago Moreno.
Gio Savarese’s side is currently sitting at 8th place in the Western Conference, just one-point behind Real Salt Lake and playoff participation. Heading into the season as favorites to challenge for a spot a top the entire league, acquisitions were made to strengthen a point of weakness for the club last season, the backline.
With the additions of Argentine National Team member Claudio Bravo and Chivas defender Josecarlos Van Rankin as expected, though there was also a hint at an acquisition to be made for the attack at a later date by the Timbers front office. Well nearly fourteen games into the season, Portland has there guy in 21-year-old Colombian winger Santiago Moreno from Categoría Primera A side América de Cali.
“There has been a lot of interest in Santiago Moreno from many teams,” head coach Giovanni Savarese said, “so the fact that he decided to come to Portland makes us feel special. We are all excited to have a talented player coming here that will provide us many great assets but still has room to develop, and I believe that Portland is a very good place for him to continue to grow.”
The young attacker was linked with moves to England (Leeds and Southampton) and Scotland (Rangers) very recently. With experience and goals scored in Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamerica, the continents premier competitions and a solid campaign domestically in 2021 (posting four goals and four assists in 17 games), his departure was undeniable.
Addressing A Future Need
Moreno is far from a finished product, but the interest he received from clubs in the United Kingdom as well as his performances on a continental level are hard to argue against. As well as the Timbers stars, who may still be giving opposing teams hard times on the pitch, still aging makes this signing even more of a homerun.
Especially given the use of the league’s new U-22 rule, allowing teams to sign young and talented players without utilizing a designated player spot. “Per the initiative, teams that have already used their three regular Designated Player spots can sign a fourth, under-22 player who, regardless of salary, will count up to $200,000 against the team’s salary cap.” With this signing, Moreno will retain his U-22 status until the 2025 season.
Aside from an aging group of leaders in the attack, 24-year-old forward Jeremy Ebobisse is continually rumored to be on the move Europe. Currently sitting in second on the squad’s scoresheet with three goals, only one behind Felipe Mora, Ebobisse has aparrently had interest from sides in Belgium, Sweden and the 2. Bundesliga.
The More The Merrier
Moreno will be the third Colombian on the roster this season, with wingers Dairon Asprilla, Yimmi Chara and his brother, a club legend and current midfielder Diego already on the roster. All players have had very big impacts on the club and Moreno’s arrival in Portland is set to begin on an incredibly sturdy foundation because of them.
Moreno has yet to arrive in Portland, as he has physicals and immigration obstacles to tackle first (soccer joke). His fee to América de Cali has yet to be disclosed, but a fee of $50,000 in GAM to the Philadelphia Union for his priority rights were mentioned.
The Timbers now move to their next match against the LA Galaxy on Friday July 30th. The club will face a Golden Boot chasing Chicharito and a club positioned in third place in the Western Conference. It’s a tough way to round out an already tough month, with a record of 2-0-2 in July. This acquisition is extremely solid, but the current squad still has to adjust and push forward or risk missing out on the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2016.