Portland Timbers sign Colombian striker Jose Adolfo Valencia as Designated Player
Posted Friday, December 16, 2011 by YAHOO Sport
The Portland Timbers announced the signing of 19-year-old Colombian forward Jose Adolfo Valencia as a young Designated Player. Per league policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Valencia joins from Colombian first-division club Independiente Santa Fe, and was also a standout for the Colombian U-20 national team in 2011, helping the squad to a quarterfinal appearance at the 2011 U-20 FIFA World Cup.
“We are excited about acquiring our first young Designated Player,” said Timbers GM Gavin Wilkinson.
“Jose is a very gifted player who possesses great athleticism and maturity on the field for a player of his age. He is an imposing player on the field, has a tremendous upside and we look forward to watching his continued development in MLS,” Wilkinson added.
Valencia carries a famous name, as he is the son of former Colombian international Adolfo Valencia, who played in the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cups. He had a successful club career as well, playing with Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, and also spending time in MLS with the MetroStars in 2000-01.
His father was nicknamed "El Tren" (The Train), so the 6-foot-1 Jose Adolfo is known as "El Trencito" (The Little Train).
“Jose is a young player we've been monitoring for the last 12 months. It is nice to finally say he's a Timbers player,” said head coach John Spencer. “He is powerful and quick and should be a nice complement to the attacking players we have with the club already."
Under the league's new young DP rules, Valencia will only count for $150,000 against the salary cap.
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