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ESPN staff 8y

Portland Timbers trade for Darren Mattocks, give Fanendo Adi new deal

The Portland Timbers shored up their front line on Monday, completing a trade with the Vancouver Whitecaps for forward Darren Mattocks and signing striker Fanendo Adi to a contract extension.

Mattocks, 25, will reunite with his former college coach at Akron, Caleb Porter, who is now in charge of Portland.

The former No. 2 overall pick scored three goals in 22 league appearances (nine starts) for Vancouver last season.

In exchange for the Jamaica international, the Whitecaps receive general allocation money, targeted allocation money and an international roster spot for next season.

"We are extremely pleased to be able to add Darren Mattocks to our roster as another dynamic attacking option," Porter said in a statement released by the club. "Darren is an exciting player that has game-changing pace and has displayed his goal-scoring ability in MLS and with Jamaica.

"He can provide depth in the striker role or as a winger and will bring another weapon to an already strong attacking group."

In addition to acquiring Mattocks, the Timbers announced they had used targeted allocation money to extend Adi's deal.

Adi, also 25, scored 16 times for the MLS Cup winners in 2015.

He joined Portland as a designated player in 2014, but the club bought down his contract last season in order to sign Lucas Melano.

Also on Friday, the Oregonian reported that captain Liam Ridgewell's hamstring injury will keep him out for four to six weeks.

Ridgewell confirmed the injury on Sunday, when he did not play in the club's 2-1 defeat at San Jose. He wrote on Twitter:

Ridgewell joins his fellow defenders Chris Klute and Andy Thoma on the Timbers' injured list.

Zarek Valentin started in Ridgewell's place on Sunday, but Jack Barmby could also spell the captain following his arrival from Leicester City.

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