Scottish striker Kris Boyd may have passed on dressing in Dynamo orange for the 2012 MLS season, but chopping down opponents as a Designated Player in Timbers green proved attractive enough to lure the ex-Rangers hit man to Portland.
The Timbers announced the signing of the 28-year-old forward on Monday. Boyd will be added to the club’s roster pending the receipt of his P-1 Visa and the successful completion of a physical. Per club and league policy, details of the contract were not disclosed.
“I’ve said from the beginning, that we are committed to winning and will make a significant investment on the player front if it is the right fit for the organization,” Timbers owner and president Merritt Paulson said in a statement. “Kris perfectly fits the profile of the team’s needs and will make a huge impact.”
The most prolific scorer in Scottish Premier League history with 164 goals in 296 appearances, Boyd started his career with Scottish club Kilmarnock in 2000 before joining SPL powerhouse Rangers in 2006, where he enjoyed a storied four-year stint during which he tallied 101 times for the club. Not only did Boyd win the SPL scoring title in each season while at Ibrox, he also led the club to back-to-back SPL crowns (2008-09, '09-10) and Scottish Cup trophies (2007-08, '08-09) as well as three Scottish League Cups (2006-07, '07-08, '09-10).
The striker also played for English sides Middlesbrough (six goals, 29 matches) and Nottingham Forest (six goals, 10 matches). Most recently, Boyd suited up for Turkish outfit Eskişehirspor.
“Kris is a proven goal-scorer at the highest levels of the game, and we expect that to continue here in Portland,” said John Spencer, head coach of the Timbers, in a press release. “We’ve been looking for this type of traditional No. 9 player and are very pleased we found him.”
Aside from his penchant for scoring, the Timbers are also getting a man with UEFA Champions League and Europa League experience. Boyd has eight Champions League games under his belt, and 11 matches and three goals in the Europa League to his credit.
Furthermore, Boyd has suited up for the Scottish national team 18 times (seven goals), and also represented his country at the U-16, U-19 and U-21 levels.
“I’m delighted to be in Portland, and hopefully I’ll be over as soon as the visa matches up to be in time to be ready for the season,” Boyd said in a statement.
A player that prefers to play inside the box where he can use his size – 6-foot-1, 180 pounds – to his advantage, Boyd will likely be viewed as an upgrade over Kenny Cooper, whom the Timbers traded to New York for allocation money during the offseason.
