PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers today announced that the club has acquired the LA Galaxy’s natural first round pick (8th overall) in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft in exchange for defender Jorge Villafaña and the Timbers’ natural first round pick (16th overall) in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft. Additional Allocation Money may be received based on Villafaña’s performance with the Galaxy.
Villafaña, 31, tallied four goals and 19 assists in 127 appearances (121 starts) across all competitions for the Timbers (2014-15, 2018-20). Across five seasons with the club, Villafaña helped the Timbers win the 2015 MLS Cup and the MLS is Back Tournament.
“Jorge has been a model professional for the club and I would like to thank him and his family for their commitment and contributions to the Timbers,” said Gavin Wilkinson, general manager and president of soccer for the Timbers. “His performances and success for this club will leave a lasting memory and we wish him and his family all the best.”
The Anaheim, Calif., native played in 102 career games (96 starts) and registered three goals and 18 assists for the Timbers in MLS regular-season play. Notably, Villafaña’s 18 regular-season assists ranks fifth all-time in club history (MLS era), while his 102 regular-season appearances ranks ninth all-time during the MLS era.
“It’s been an honor playing in Portland, and I’m grateful for helping this club win some trophies. I would like to thank the Portland Timbers organization for the five amazing years that I’ve spent with the club,” said Villafaña. “My family and I have built amazing memories with my teammates and friends in Portland. I also want to thank the Timbers Army and all the fans that have supported me through the good times and the bad. I’m forever grateful.”
During the 2020 MLS regular-season campaign, Villafaña appeared in 19 games (17 starts) for the Timbers, tallying one goal and five assists in 1,550 minutes played. Villafaña registered five assists in 23 games played (22 starts) during league play in 2019. Villafaña joined the Timbers midway through the 2018 MLS season from Liga MX side Santos Laguna, later playing in eight games (7 starts) and helping Portland reach the MLS Cup Final.
“It has been a great pleasure to work with Jorge during the past few years. He is a player that has contributed to the success of the Portland Timbers organization,” said Giovanni Savarese, head coach of the Timbers. “He has been an outstanding part of our strong locker room and I wish him and his family the best for the future.”
Prior to joining Santos Laguna, Villafaña was originally acquired by the Timbers in a trade with Chivas USA on Dec. 12, 2013, with the defender making 52 regular-season appearances for Portland over two seasons from 2014-2015, including a career-high 33 regular-season games played (33 starts) and six postseason appearances (all starts) as a key component in Portland’s 2015 championship-winning campaign.
Transaction: The Portland Timbers acquire the LA Galaxy’s natural first round pick (8th overall) in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft in exchange for defender Jorge Villafaña and the Timbers’ natural first round pick (16th overall) in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft. Additional Allocation Money may be received based on Villafaña’s performance with the Galaxy.
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