Portland Timbers Acquire Michael Nanchoff's Rights

Michael Nanchoff has been training with Portland as a guest player since training camp opened and it appears has done enough to earn contract negotiations. Portland could not sign Nanchoff because of MLS' quirky rules and the fact that the Vancouver Whitecaps still had the right of first refusal. Therefore if Portland wanted to sign him they would need to trade for his rights or have Vancouver waive their rights. Which is why Portland traded to Vancouver for the right to sign Michael Nanchoff.

I will give you three guesses as to where Nanchoff played college soccer and the first two don't count. Yep, that's right he played at Akron University. In some ways this might be a good thing because it means less time getting players used to Caleb Porter's system and therefore less of a transition on the field during games.

What this trade doesn't mean is that Nanchoff is a Portland Timber. Portland and Nanchoff still have to come to an agreement on a contract and while that looks like a certainty it is not a guarantee.

What do you think of the trade?

Press release:

PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Timbers have acquired the right of first refusal to midfielder Michael Nanchofffrom Vancouver Whitecaps FC in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2015 MLS Supplemental Draft, it was announced today.

Nanchoff, 24, has been training with the Timbers since the start of preseason camp on Jan. 21, and has appeared in each of the club's first four preseason matches, recording one assist.

Selected No. 8 overall in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft by Whitecaps FC, Nanchoff made 14 regular-season and two Canadian Championship appearances during his two seasons in Vancouver.

Nanchoff, a native of North Royalton, Ohio, played three collegiate seasons at the University of Akron, where he played under Timbers head coach Caleb Porter. The two-time All-Mid-American first-team selection was a key contributor in the Zips' back-to-back appearances in the NCAA College Cup final in 2009 and 2010, and Akron's first national championship in 2010. Nanchoff recorded nine goals and nine assists in 25 games during his final collegiate season in 2010 and garnered NSCAA All-Great Lakes Second Team and NCAA College Cup All-Tournament Team honors. In total, he played in 62 matches and recorded 15 goals and 22 assists during his collegiate career with the Zips.