You can call the 2016 Portland Timbers the Black Keys, because Caleb Porter is getting his Akron band back together.
The Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps completed a long-rumored trade on Monday that sends striker Darren Mattocks south to Portland in exchange for General Allocation Money, Targeted Allocation Money and an international roster spot for the 2017 season. The transaction was originally reported by Jamaican and Canadian outlets over the weekend.
Mattocks was an NCAA star under Porter at the University of Akron, where the duo won the 2010 College Cup national championship along with current Timbers Zarek Valentin and Darlington Nagbe, and a raft of other future pros.
“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 goalscoring 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.”
As part of the trade, Whitecaps FC will receive a percentage of any future transfer proceeds if Mattocks is transferred out of the league.
"We're grateful for Darren's four years of service with the club," Vancouver head coach Carl Robinson said in a statement released by the Whitecaps. "He brought a lot of excitement to our team coming in as a young player. We wish him the best in Portland."
Mattocks was selected by Whitecaps FC with the second overall pick in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft after playing two years at Akron. Over his four seasons in Vancouver, the Jamaican international scored 20 goals and collected six assists in 96 MLS regular-season and MLS Cup Playoffs appearances, which includes 53 starts. He has 10 goals in 29 career appearances with the Jamaican national team.
