COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – Arsenal defender Kerrea Gilbert will not be playing in a Portland Timbers uniform any time soon after being unable to obtain the required P1 Visa.
Timbers general manager Gavin Wilkinson told The Oregonian that the team will no longer try to bring Gilbert to the US to play soccer this season.
“He will not be joining us this year,” Wilkinson told the newspaper. “It was taking too long. We always had a deadline on it and that deadline was extended a little bit.”
When contacted by MLSsoccer.com, a Portland spokesperson confirmed Wilkinson’s comments, adding that there would be "no further pursuit of the matter."
Gilbert signed with Portland in December, but subsequent concerns over legal troubles dragged on through the duration of preseason training. A fullback developed through Arsenal’s ranks, he showed great projection and was viewed as one of the team’s best additions of the offseason.
