TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Signing
UPDATE, July 27 – The Portland Timbers have signed defender Juan David Mosquera from Colombian top-flight side Independiente Medellín as a U22 Initiative player, the club announced Wednesday.
Mosquera, 19, joins through the 2026 season with an option for 2027. He is the Timbers’ third U22 Initiative player alongside midfielders David Ayala and Santiago Moreno.
"Juan David is a talented player who at a young age has showcased his abilities at the club level as well as in important tournaments such as Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana,” general manager and president of soccer Gavin Wilkinson said in a release.
“For a young player, he has already amassed a good number of professional games at a high level, and we believe he has all the attributes to be a great addition to the team. We are excited to welcome him and continue his development.”
Mosquera heads to the Rose City after three professional seasons with Medellín. He registered three goals and three assists in 59 appearances across all competitions.
Internationally, Mosquera has represented Colombia at the 2019 South American U-17 Championship and recently earned call-ups to U-20 training camps.
“We’re excited to welcome Juan David to Portland. We believe he will give us depth and strength, while we also will provide him with the right environment to develop as a player and as a person,” head coach Giovanni Savarese said in a release. “His talent and skillset will make us a more competitive team. We’ve incorporated and trusted young, talented players into our team and we have seen their growth.
"These young players have adapted themselves in a very positive way, so I’m looking forward to work with Juan David as he develops with us at the Timbers.”
ORIGINAL, July 16 – The Portland Timbers are in advanced talks to sign defender Juan David Mosquera from Colombian top-flight side Independiente Medellin, sources tell MLSsoccer.com.
The deal is being discussed, but nothing has been finalized. He would be a U22 Initiative signing for the Timbers.
Mosquera is a Colombian youth international who lines up at right back. The 19-year-old has already made 59 appearances with Medellin's first team, scoring three goals and recording three assists.
Portland have planned to use their final U22 Initiative slot on a young right back and identified Mosquera as the right fit. On July 1, the club extended the loan of regular starting right back Josecarlos Van Rankin from Liga MX side Chivas Guadalajara through the end of the 2022 season.
The Timbers have Colombian attacker Santiago Moreno and Argentine midfielder David Ayala already on their roster via the U22 Initiative, with Mosquera potentially the third rising talent from South America to join the club via the mechanism.
Moreno, 22, signed last summer and is a key starter with 4g/4a in 20 appearances this year. Ayala, 19, has made three starts in his debut season in MLS and another nine appearances off the bench.
Portland have found improved form over the last month, culminating with a 3-0 win over rival Seattle Sounders FC in their last outing. That moved them up the Western Conference table to ninth place, just one point below the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs line.
