Portland Timbers sign Chris Duvall for defensive depth

After a preseason injury to center back Bill Tuiloma and the departure of full back Zarek Valentin over the offseason, the Portland Timbers have signed versatile defender Chris Duvall to help fill in on the back line as needed.

Primarily a right back, Duvall is also capable of filling in at center back and has already done so for the Timbers during their preseason, partnering with Julio Cascante to backstop the Timbers second line against the Vancouver Whitecaps and Minnesota United FC.

Duvall, 28, will be a veteran presence on the Timbers bench, bringing six years of professional experience and 102 MLS appearances with the New York Red Bulls, Montreal Impact, and Houston Dynamo to the table. Most recently Duvall spent the latter half of the 2019 season with the Oklahoma City Energy, although he only made three appearances with the side.

The Timbers’ press release:

TIMBERS SIGN DEFENDER CHRIS DUVALL FOR 2020 SEASON

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers today announced the signing of defender Chris Duvall for the 2020 season.

Duvall, 28, is a six-year MLS veteran with two goals and seven assists in 102 matches played (92 starts) across three different teams in league play (2014-19). Additionally, Duvall played parts of 2019 with USL Championship clubs OKC Energy FC (three appearances) and Rio Grande Valley FC (three appearances).

“Chris provides experience and balance to the roster,” said Gavin Wilkinson, general manager and president of soccer for the Timbers. “He’s a great fit whose veteran presence will help us along the back line.”

The Duluth, Ga., native was drafted by the New York Red Bulls in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft in the second round (No. 22 overall). In his first season as a professional in 2014, Duvall registered one assist in 19 appearances (18 starts). The following season, Duvall tallied one goal and one assist in 15 games played (14 starts) in 2015. In his final season for the Red Bulls in 2016, Duvall made 25 appearances (20 starts), tallying two assists.

“Chris is a veteran defender who has trained very well with us, so we are happy to have him under contract moving forward,” said Timbers head coach Giovanni Savarese. “He has been in this league a long time and having someone with his experience at right back will be valuable.”

In 2017, Duvall made a career-high 27 appearances (25 starts) for the Montreal Impact, registering one goal and two assists. In his second season for the Impact, Duvall logged one assist in 15 games played (14 starts) in 2018. In 2019, Duvall made one appearance (one start) for the Houston Dynamo.

Transaction: Portland Timbers sign defender Chris Duvall for the 2020 season on Feb. 25, 2020

Chris Duvall

Position: Defender

Height: 5-10

Weight: 165

Born: Sept. 10, 1991, in Duluth, Ga.

College: Wake Forest University

Citizenship: United States

Acquired: Signed for the 2020 season on Feb. 25, 2020