TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Signing
UPDATE (June 30) – The Portland Timbers have signed center back Miguel Araujo from Dutch side FC Emmen, the club announced Friday.
The 28-year-old Peruvian international joins through the 2025 MLS season with a club option for 2026. He will be eligible to debut once the league's Secondary Transfer Window opens on July 5.
"We are pleased to welcome Miguel to the Portland Timbers," general manager Ned Grabavoy said in a release. "We believe Miguel provides us another solid option in defense, and his experience playing in various leagues and competitions throughout his career will be invaluable."
Araujo joins the Timbers after spending five seasons (2019-23) at FC Emmen, where he registered 12 goals and four assists in 118 appearances across all competitions, most recently in the Eredivisie (first division). Beforehand, the defender logged 164 appearances over seven seasons (2011-13, 2014-19) in the Peruvian top tier Liga 1 with Cobresol, Sport Huancayo and Club Alianza Lima.
Araujo has made 28 appearances for Peru, highlighted by roster spots at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and the 2019 and 2021 Copa América tournaments.
"We feel Araujo’s experience, coming from a competitive league like the Dutch league, will make that position a very competitive one," head coach Giovanni Savarese said in a release.
ORIGINAL (June 25) – The Portland Timbers appear to have backline help on the way, as _The Athletic_’s Tom Bogert and _The Oregonian_’s Ryan Clarke are reporting the club’s finalizing a deal to acquire center back Miguel Araujo from Dutch side FC Emmen.
Araujo, 28, is an established Peruvian international defender and would join a center-back group that includes Zac McGraw, Dario Zuparic and Larrys Mabiala. The Timbers have searched for help at the position since trading Bill Tuiloma to Charlotte FC in preseason.
Araujo would arrive after making 76 appearances in the Eredivisie for Emmen, adding six goals and one assist. His other main club was Peru’s Club Alianza Lima, where he featured in the Copa Libertadores and amassed over 130 matches. Red Star Belgrade (Serbia) and Club Atlético Talleres (Argentina) are other stops on his ledger.
On the international stage, Araujo has played in 28 games for La Blanquirroja since debuting in 2014. He often features alongside MLS players like Orlando City SC goalkeeper Pedro Gallese, San Jose Earthquakes left back Miguel Tracuo, Seattle Sounders FC striker Raúl Ruidíaz and more.
The MLS Secondary Transfer Window opens July 5 and runs through Aug. 2. Incoming signings can’t be formally registered until then.
Portland, through Matchday 21, are just outside the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs field in 10th place (Western Conference). Their 27 goals allowed are in the bottom third league-wide.
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