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The Portland Timbers will re-sign Frederic Piquionne, according to a report by Jamie Goldberg in The Oregonian. Citing 'sources,' the report does not provide a duration of a new contract, nor a ballpark financial expectation. Piquionne was out of contract at the end of the 2013 season, having earned a base salary of $142,000, according to the MLS Players Union.
That Piquionne would return is not a huge surprise, especially given the departures of Jose Valencia and Sebastian Rincon and the expected absence of Ryan Johnson heading into the 2014 preseason. At present, only Maximiliano Urruti is under contract at the forward position, though of course the Timbers should be announcing the signing of Argentine striker Gaston Fernandez any day now.
Piquionne most famously scored four goals in the first half of a US Open Cup game against Wilmington Hammerheads and headed in Portland's second goal in the semifinal first leg at Real Salt Lake in November. Injuries limited him to just twenty-one regular season games during his first year in MLS, yielding one goal.
UPDATE: Here is the Timbers' press release making the signing official:
TIMBERS RE-SIGN FORWARD FREDERIC PIQUIONNE
PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers announced today that the club has re-signed forward Frederic Piquionne. Per MLS and club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Piquionne, 35, returns for a second season with the Timbers in 2014. He played in 26 matches across all competitions for Portland during the 2013 campaign, registering seven goals and ranking among club leaders with six assists. During a 12-match span from May 29-Aug. 3, Piquionne notched six goals and six assists across all competitions. He played in two matches during the MLS Cup Playoffs, scoring one goal in the first leg of the Western Conference Championship against Real Salt Lake.
Piquionne was the Timbers’ leading scorer during 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, recording five goals and one assist as the club reached the semifinal of the tournament. He tallied four goals in the first half of Portland’s third-round match and also provided the game-winning goal in a road win against FC Dallas in the quarterfinal.
Born in New Caledonia, Piquionne played in the top levels of France and England before joining the Timbers last season. He started his professional career with French side Nîmes in 2000-01, and then played eight seasons (2001-09) in France’s top flight, Ligue 1, appearing in more than 200 matches and scoring more than 50 goals with clubs Rennes, Saint-Étienne, AS Monaco and Lyon. With Lyon, Piquionne scored a goal in his UEFA Champions League debut on Sept. 17, 2008.
In England, Piquionne played for Premier League clubs Portsmouth and West Ham United. He scored 11 goals across all competitions for Portsmouth during the 2009-10 season, including three goals in FA Cup play to help the club reach the final. He spent two seasons at West Ham United (2010-12), where he notched eight goals in 54 matches.
Piquionne has represented both France and Martinique at the international level. He lived on the Caribbean island of Martinique prior to his professional career, and has represented the nation on multiple occasions. Piquionne helped the Martinique National Team to a top-four finish in the 2012 Caribbean Cup and played in the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Born in the French territory of New Caledonia, Piquionne made his international debut with the France National Team in 2007.
Piquionne will occupy an international slot on the Timbers roster.
Frederic Piquionne
Pronunciation: fred-REEK pick-EE-own
Position: Forward
Height: 6-2
Weight: 170
Born: Dec. 8, 1978, in Nouméa, New Caledonia
Hometown: Nouméa, New Caledonia
Last Club: West Ham United (England)
College: n/a
Citizenship: France, New Caledonia
Acquired: Re-signed on Jan. 7, 2014.
