The MLS is Back tournament is right around the corner for the Portland Timbers. While things have been mostly quiet, the Timbers have gone out and signed both a center-back and pright-back ahead of the tournament. With Jorge Moreira headed back to River Plate as his loan has come to an end, the Timbers are looking to bolster the backline and they did just that. How will these to fit into Giovanni Savarese’s plans is yet to be seen.
Zac McGraw
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McGraw the 23 year-old center-back, is a first-year professional and graduated from Army West Point after being selected by the Timbers in the third round (No. 68 overall) of the 2020 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas. Notably, McGraw is the first Army men’s soccer player to have ever been drafted in the MLS SuperDraft.
A native of Torrance, Calif., McGraw made 68 appearances (66 starts) and tallied one goal and nine assists as a four-year starter at Army West Point (2016-19). McGraw, who was a four-time First Team All-Patriot League honoree, started all 16 matches for the Black Knights during his senior campaign, logging one goal and four assists in 2019. McGraw earned two USCA First Team All-Northeast Region recognitions (2017, 2018) and was named a 2019 USCA Third Team All-Northeast Region honoree.
Pablo Bonilla
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The 20-year-old right-back comes to the Timbers from T2. He’ll end up occupying a international roster spot. Here’s what General Manager Gavin Wilson had to say about bringing Bonilla to the big club.
“We are excited to add Pablo to the first team roster from T2,” said Gavin Wilkinson, general manager and president of soccer for the Timbers. “He has settled in well and we believe he has the necessary qualities, personality and attributes to be very successful in this league.”
A native of Píritu, Venezuela, Bonilla, joined T2 from Deportivo La Guaira Fútbol Club (2019), where he made six appearances (six starts) in the Apertura Tournament, scoring a goal in his debut. Prior to joining La Guaira, Bonilla made his professional debut as a 17-year-old with Portuguesa Fútbol Club (2017-19), appearing in 66 matches (65 starts) and registering three goals and seven assists.
Here’s what Gio has to say about the young Venezuelan defender.
“Pablo is a tenacious player with a hard-working mentality who is developing very well,” said Giovanni Savarese, head coach of the Timbers. “He has great attributes and qualities that will make him a very strong right back.”
At the international level, Bonilla was called in by the Venezuela U-23 Men’s National Team for the 2020 CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament, where he started and played three consecutive first round matches. Bonilla made nine appearances (nine starts) at the 2019 CONMEBOL Sudamericano Sub 20 Tournament in Chile and three appearances (three starts) at the 2018 Juegos Suramericanos in Cochabamba, Bolivia, tallying one goal in a 4-1 victory against Bolivia.