PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers today announced that the club has signed defender Pablo Bonilla from Primera División de Venezuela side Deportivo La Guaira Fútbol Club. Bonilla will be added to T2’s roster pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate (ITC), in addition to league and federation approval.
“We are excited to welcome Pablo to the Portland Timbers. He is a young player that has a tremendous upside and potential,” said Gavin Wilkinson, general manager and president of soccer for the Timbers. “The expectation is that he shows his qualities with T2 and progresses through to the first team. Pablo will be immediately joining our T2 roster for the upcoming USL Championship season where we look forward to continuing his development.”
A native of Píritu, Venezuela, Bonilla, 20, joins Portland from Deportivo La Guaira Fútbol Club (2019), where he made six appearances (six starts) in the Apertura Tournament, scoring a goal in his debut. Prior to joining La Guaira, Bonilla made his professional debut as a 17-year-old with Portuguesa Fútbol Club (2017-19), appearing in 66 matches (65 starts) and registering three goals and seven assists.
At the international level, Bonilla was recently called in by the Venezuela U-23 Men’s National Team for the 2020 CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament, where he started and played three consecutive first round matches. Bonilla and La Vinotinto will play their last match of the tournament on Thursday, Jan. 30, when they face Argentina at Estadio Hernán Ramírez Villegas in Pereira.
Bonilla has made multiple appearances for Venezuela at the youth level, including making nine appearances (nine starts) at the 2019 CONMEBOL Sudamericano Sub 20 Tournament in Chile and three appearances (three starts) at the 2018 Juegos Suramericanos in Cochabamba, Bolivia, tallying one goal in a 4-1 victory against Bolivia.
Transaction: Portland Timbers sign defender Pablo Bonilla from Deportivo La Guaira Fútbol Club on Jan. 28, 2020
Pablo Bonilla
Position: Defender
Height: 5-8
Weight: 155
Born: December 2, 1999, in Píritu, Venezuela
Last Club: Deportivo La Guaira Fútbol Club (Primera División de Venezuela)
Citizenship: Venezuela
Acquired: Acquired on Jan. 28, 2020
