Portland Timbers exercise options on seven players

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers have exercised the 2015 contract options on seven players, it was announced today.

Players who were already under contract for the 2015 season are: goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts; defenders Jack Jewsbury, Norberto Paparatto and Liam Ridgewell; midfielders Diego Chara, Will Johnson, Darlington Nagbe and Diego Valeri; and forwards Fanendo Adi, Schillo Tshuma and Maximiliano Urruti.

The Timbers have picked up the 2015 contract options on midfielders George Fochive, Michael Nanchoff, Rodney Wallace and Ben Zemanski, defender Taylor Peay and goalkeepers Jake Gleeson and Andrew Weber.

Additionally, the Timbers exercised the purchase option on defender Alvas Powell’s contract from Jamaica’s Portmore United and he was signed to a new, long-term deal after originally joining Portland on loan in 2013. Defender Jorge Villafaña, who was out of contract, was also re-signed by the Timbers.

The Timbers are in further contract discussions with forward Gastón Fernández.

Four players’ contract options were declined and two players from the club’s 2014 roster are out of contract.

The Timbers declined the 2015 contract options on midfielders Kalif Alhassan and Steven Evans, and defenders Bryan Gallego and Pa Modou Kah. Alhassan is eligible for the MLS Re-Entry Draft. Additionally, the club announced that forward Jose Valencia was sold to Argentina’s Club Olimpo Bahía Blanca, while Evans has signed a contract with T2.

Defenders Rauwshan McKenzie and Danny O’Rourke are out of contract and have not been extended bona fide offers. Both players will be eligible for the MLS Re-Entry Draft.