The college player of the year. A dynamic player who can be the face of the Portland Timbers. A versatile attacker who can make things happen from midfield.
The Portland Timbers management was excited Thursday — and, yes, a bit surprised — when Darlington Nagbe was available for them to pick with the No. 2 selection in the Major League Soccer SuperDraft.
“He does things that are years above where he should be (at age 20),” Timbers general manager Gavin Wilkinson said.
College soccer’s Hermann Trophy winner as the national player of the year in the fall of 2010, Nagbe had seven goals and 13 assists as a junior in helping Akron win its first national championship.
Considered a dynamic offensive talent with speed who plays both in midfield and at forward, Nagbe fell to Portland when Vancouver Whitecaps FC selected 17-year-old Omar Salgado of the U.S. under-20 national team with the first overall pick. The annual MLS entry draft is when teams select mostly from available American college players.
Wilkinson called draft day a great success for his franchise, which begins its first MLS season in March.
He said he is thrilled to land Nagbe, the player the Timbers had rated at the top of their wish list. And Wilkinson called the acquisition through trades of an extra foreign slot and more allocation money critical to the franchise’s plan.
In addition to the draft, reports on Thursday indicated that the Timbers will sign former MLS all-star striker Kenny Cooper, though Portland did not announce any additional player signings.
Timbers head coach John Spencer called Nagbe “a natural born soccer player” who brings unique versatility as a young player who can play any position in midfield and also move up front.
“It’s fantastic,” Spencer said about landing Nagbe. “The kid’s a fantastic soccer player.”
Nagbe is 5-foot-9, weight 165 pounds, and is 20 years old. He is one of 10 Generation Adidas players this year — meaning his salary will be paid by MLS and will not count against the Timbers salary cap.
Wilkinson said he was only slightly surprised that Vancouver went with Salgado, who is younger than Nagbe but has tremendous potential according to the Portland GM.
Despite reports that he didn’t want to play in Canada, Nagbe said that was not an issue.
“I grew up here in the United States,” said Nagbe, a native of Lakewood, Ohio. “It’s a beautiful country, but I would’ve gladly played for anyone who picked me,” he said.
Nagbe was the first of seven Akron players drafted. Nagbe said he spoke with last year’s No. 4 over all pick from Akron, Kansas City’s Teal Bunbury, after Thursday’s selection.
“He’s been kind of a big brother to me,” Nagbe said of Bunbury. “He just told me that it’s a process, to have patience, and keep working hard.”
Nagbe said he is excited about coming to an expansion club because he will have a chance to compete for a starting spot. He said he expects the mental approach to being a professional to be as important an adjustment from the college game as the physical adjustment to MLS.
Nagbe said he did some internet research on Thursday after Portland picked him, and that he is excited about coming to a team with a enthusiastic fan base, including the Timbers Army.
The Timbers’ second pick, No. 22 overall, was Chris Taylor, a 6-foot-1, 160-pound left back who played college soccer for Tulsa. Spencer said Taylor had a very strong showing at this week’s combine workouts for potential draftees.
