Ahead of the Supplemental Draft this morning, the Timbers announced the signing of Colombian defender Hanyer Mosquera. The signing has long been rumored and is likely one of the "significant (international) defensive signings" that Merritt Paulson hinted at before the SuperDraft.
A central defender, Mosquera's highlight reel (check it out here) shows a player who is good at breaking up plays in the air or on the ground and one who is able to get forward and contribute a goal on occasion. The additions of Mosquera and new SuperDraft pick Andrew Jean-Baptiste will bring a new look to the Timbers back line in 2012. Going from a position of questionable depth to having to potential to be one of the league's best central defensive units is not too bad.
Find the Timbers full press release after the jump.
PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers today announced the signing of Colombian defender Hanyer Mosquera. Timbers general manager Gavin Wilkinson made the announcement. Per league and club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Mosquera, 24, joins the Timbers after playing the past six seasons in Colombia, including the last two with first-division side Club Deportivo La Equidad Seguros. Last season, he helped lead La Equidad to the finals of the Liga Postobón’s Apertura campaign and competed in the 2011 Copa Sudamericana.
"Hanyer is a player we’ve had our eye on for 18 months," said Wilkinson. "He has all the attributes needed to become one of the top defenders in MLS."
Mosquera will be added to the Timbers roster following the receipt of his International Transfer Certificate (ITC) and P1 Visa.
A native of Istmina, Colombia, Mosquera played in 34 matches, scored two goals and aided in 10 shutouts in league play for La Equidad in 2011. He anchored La Equidad’s backline during the Apertura campaign, starting 22 games, including six playoff matches, and scored in the second leg of the quarterfinals against Envigado to guide the club to the finals against Atlético Nacional.
In the 2011 Copa Sudamericana, Mosquera made four starts for La Equidad during the tournament and scored the game-winning goal in an opening-round match against Peruvian side Juan Aurich.
He started his professional career at the age of 19 in 2006, signing with Colombian second-division club Corporación Deportiva Centauros Villavicencio. He played the last four seasons in Colombia’s top flight, the Liga Postobón, with Corporación Deportes Quindío (2008-10) and La Equidad (2010-11). In total, Mosquera appeared in 127 matches and scored six goals during his career in the Liga Postobón.
Mosquera joined La Equidad from Quindío midway through the 2010 season, and then helped La Equidad qualify for the Clausura playoffs as well as the 2011 Copa Sudamericana and advance to the semifinals of the 2010 Copa Colombia tournament.
During his first two professional seasons with Centauros, Mosquera contributed to postseason appearances made by the club in both 2006 and 2007. He was part of Centauros top-ranked defense in 2006, in which the backline finished the Torneo Postobón’s Clausura campaign tied for the fewest goals allowed, conceding just 17 goals in 18 games.
Hanyer Mosquera
Full Name: Hanyer Luis Mosquera Cordoba
Pronunciation: AHN-yer moss-KEH-rah
Position: Defender
Height: 6-1
Weight: 175
Born: Jan. 15, 1987, in Istmina, Colombia
Hometown: Istmina, Colombia
Last Club: Club Deportivo La Equidad Seguros
College: n/a
Citizenship: Colombia
Ed: Props to Kejsare and Smorris for being on top of this and posting it in the fanposts/fanshots