Nick Besler Signs with Real Monarchs

After the Portland Timbers cut him following the end of the 2016 season, it always seemed likely that Nick Besler would end up on a USL side; the only question was, would it be T2?

Now, one month later, we know where the 23 year old midfielder has landed, as Real Monarchs have announced Besler’s signing. The Monarchs are the USL affiliate of the Timbers’ Western Conference foes Real Salt Lake.

Besler always had a lot to live up to in his time with the Portland Timbers; being selected with the No. 5 pick in the 2015 MLS Superdraft, being the Timbers’ highest draft pick since Darlington Nagbe, and sharing a last name with his nationally capped older brother all raised the expectations surrounding him.

Although he was a regular with T2, making 49 league appearances with the side over the last two seasons, Besler never made it onto the field in a competitive first team match.

Besler is the third T2 regular to sign with another club this offseason after Ben Polk signed with Orlando City B and Kharlton Belmar joined Swope Park Rangers.

The T2 roster as a whole remains up in the air, with no updates since the end of the season.