The Portland Timbers have acquired Mexican defender Josecarlos Van Rankin on a one-year loan with an option to exercise a permanent transfer from Liga MX side C.D. Guadalajara, also known as Chivas, on February 3, 2021.
Van Rankin joined the Timbers after having played the previous two Liga MX campaigns with Santos Laguna (2019-2021), on loan from Chivas. With Santos Laguna, Van Rankin tallied two goals in 25 appearances (23 starts) across all competitions. Van Rankin made 11 appearances (10 starts) in his first season at Santos (2019-20), while tallying two goals in 14 games played (13 starts) for Santos Laguna in Liga MX play (2020-21) last season.
Prior to joining Santos Laguna on loan, Van Rankin played two seasons with Chivas (2018-20), where he registered two goals and three assists in 44 appearances (43 starts) across all competitions. In the 2018-19 Liga MX Apertura, Van Rankin notched two goals and one assist in 17 games played, while tallying one assist in 16 appearances in the 2018-19 Liga MX Clausura for Chivas. Notably, Van Rankin made two appearances for Chivas in the 2018 FIFA Club World Cup.
The Mexico City, Mexico, native began his professional career with Liga MX side Pumas UNAM (2012-19), where he tallied seven goals and seven assists in 180 appearances (162 starts) across all competitions. Notably, Van Rankin made five appearances and tallied one goal for Pumas in the 2016-17 Concacaf Champions League, while making four appearances (3 starts) for Pumas in the 2016 Copa Libertadores.
At the international level, Van Rankin has made one appearance for the Mexico Men’s National Team, starting and tallying an assist in a 3-2 win over Costa Rica on Oct. 11, 2018. Additionally, Van Rankin has made multiple appearances for Mexico at the youth level, including being part of the U-20 team that won the 2013 Concacaf U-20 Championship and being named to the tournament Best XI.
