David Guzman Confirms Move to Portland Timbers

On the Portland Timbers’ shopping list coming in to this offseason was a starting quality defensive midfielder and now it appears that they have gotten their man. Saprissa midfielder David Guzman told Costa Rican press that he would be joining the Timbers on a two year as the team was celebrating their 33rd title.

The Timbers have yet to make the move official and will need to wait until Major League Soccer’s international transfer window opens in Januray.

Guzman, 26, is a holding midfielder known for his distribution and ability to recover the ball in the center of the pitch, and would likely pair up with Diego Chara in the midfield in the Timbers’ preferred 4-2-3-1. Since joining Saprissa as a nineteen year old, Guzman has made 221 appearances for the club in all competitions and scoring 19 goals.

Guzman has also had his flirtations with the Costa Rican national team, receiving 25 caps since his first call up in 2010, but he is not a regular for the side, only making six appearances in non-friendly competition.

As it stands, the Timbers currently boast a holding midfield corps of Chara and Ben Zemanski, who missed the entirety of 2016 with a knee injury. The Timbers are also in negotiations for the return of Amobi Okugo, who is capable of playing in the midfield.