Confirmed: Kimura to New York for Allocation Money and Home Grown Prospect

Portland traded for Kimura with allocation money and today just sent him to the New York Red Bulls for Allocation money and Bryan Gallego. Gallego is a New York Academy player who currently is a sophomore at Akron University. Once again the amount of allocation money was not disclosed.

Here is what the New York Red bulls website said about Bryan:

Bryan Gallego is the U18 captain and has been with the Red Bulls Academy since 2007. Gallego is the born leader of the team and is a solid defender. Since joining the Red Bulls he has been named in the US U18 (as captain) and U20 National Teams. Gallego has committed to current NCAA #1 ranked University of Akron, starting in 2011.

Another overview of Bryan from College Sports Madness:

Overview:

Bryan Gallego started all 22 games of his freshman career helping Akron's defense in the 2011 season. Gallego began the season at center-back before moving to defensive midfield halfway though 2011. He was awarded College Soccer News Freshman All-American, All-MAC second team, All-Ohio team, and finished the season rated as the number six freshman in the country by Top Drawer Soccer.

Before entering the collegiate level, Gallego's career had been highlighted by being a member of the U.S. under-18 and under-20 teams. He was also a three-time captain at the N.Y. Red Bulls Academy (U-16, U-17,U-18) and won three straight high school championships, one regional championship, three state cup championships and one national title.

Final Projection:

After his outrageous pre-college career Bryan Gallego was the 10^th-ranked recruit in the nation and a five star prospect per Top Drawer Soccer. When he entered the college level he didn't disappoint. While Akron is looking for another NCAA title in the 2012 season, they will rely on Gallego's defensive skills to help keep them from getting knocked out and the pros will be watching. As long as he can keep up his momentum, Gallego will be a top defender in the NCAA and a hopeful for the 2013 draft.

Top Drawer Soccer has him as the #52 ranked upperclassmen in the NCAA.

Analysis

As Caleb Porter has seen first hand what kind of player he has in Gallego this can be can be a really good trade for the Portland Timbers. Flipping Kimura for allocation money and a prospect who seems to have great potential looks on paper to be a good trade. The real question is when will Gallego leave Akron, because it could be this year or the next year. This does leave a gaping whole at Right Back, unless Jack Jewsbury fills in or Portland decides to keep Lovel Palmer.

Press Release

PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Timbers today have acquired allocation money and the MLS Homegrown rights for defender Bryan Gallego from the New York Red Bulls in exchange for defender Kosuke Kimura and Portland's natural second-round pick in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft. Per club and league policy, terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

As part of the trade, the Timbers acquired the MLS Homegrown rights for Gallego, which allows Portland the first right of refusal in signing the former Red Bulls Academy player. Gallego, 19, recently finished his sophomore season at the University of Akron, where he played under new Timbers head coach Caleb Porter. The Kinnelon, N.J., native is a former captain for the U.S. U-18 National Team and is currently a member of the U.S. U-20 National Team pool.

Kimura, 28, played in 17 matches and recorded one goal and one assist for the Timbers after joining the club midseason in a trade with the Colorado Rapids.

"Kosuke was a consummate professional and we appreciate his contributions to the club," said Gavin Wilkinson, Timbers general manager. "We wish him well in New York."

In total, Kimura has played in 134 regular-season matches and recorded five goals and nine assists over six MLS seasons with the Rapids (2007-12) and Timbers (2012).