The Portland Timbers added to their goalkeeper corps on Tuesday by landing Jeff Attinella, who was acquired in a trade from Minnesota United FC in exchange for a natural 2nd Round draft pick in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft.
Attinella spent four seasons at Real Salt Lake as a backup for starter Nick Rimando before Minnesota United made him their fourth of five picks in the 2016 MLS Expansion Draft on December 13.
The 28-year-old Florida native only started 28 matches in those four seasons at RSL and will be keen to compete for the Timbers' No. 1 job against incumbent Jake Gleeson, who started 27 matches for Portland last year.
“We’re very pleased to add Jeff as a proven ’keeper in MLS,” Timbers head coach Caleb Porter said in a club statement. “He will provide quality and experience, and we feel good about our depth in that position.”
RSL drafted Attinella in the 2011 MLS Supplemental Draft, but he was cut in preseason. Instead, Attinella made his professional debut with the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the second-division North American Soccer League (NASL), spending two seasons with the club (2011-12). He won a 2012 league championship, earning NASL Best XI honors and finishing second in NASL MVP voting.
