TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Loan
The Portland Timbers announced on Tuesday that rookie midfielder Eryk Williamson has been loaned to Portuguese first-division side CD Santa Clara for the club’s 2018-19 season, with the ability to recall the player in January 2019. The move was originally reported by journalist Brian Sciaretta.
“Eryk is a talented young player within our club and this is an excellent opportunity for him to continue his growth and development,” said Timbers GM and president of soccer Gavin Wilkinson in a club release. “He has excelled with T2 in his first season with us, and this opportunity abroad will further challenge him in his continued preparations to becoming an impact MLS player with our club.”
A product of the D.C. United academy whose MLS Homegrown rights were acquired by the Timbers in January, Williamson, 21, made 15 appearances (15 starts) for Portland’s USL side, T2, tallying three goals and two assists in 1,252 minutes.
A U.S. youth international who performed well over three NCAA seasons at the University of Maryland, he made his Timbers first-team debut in a 2-0 win over the San Jose Earthquakes in the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup on June 6, playing 45 minutes in the victory.
Based in the Azores Islands, a North Atlantic archipelago nearly 1,000 miles west of the Portuguese mainland, Santa Clara are one of the Primeira Liga’s promoted sides this year, having finished second in LigaPro (second tier) last season.
“Eryk has shown he has great abilities in his first season with us, and we are pleased to further support his development with this opportunity,” said Timbers head coach Giovanni Savarese. “We believe this is an excellent option for him at this time, and one that should afford him the opportunity to come back an even better player.”
