Timbers sign Richards as ‘homegrown player’

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The Portland Timbers have signed forward Brent Richards under Major League Soccer’s homegrown player rule.

The native of Camas, Wash., has played with the Timbers’ U-23 development team for the past three seasons, scoring 26 goals and 12 assists in 37 matches.

In 2010, the U-23 Timbers won the USL’s Premier Development League championship with a 20-0-0 record. Richards was the league’s Most Valuable Player.

Richards has led Portland’s development league team in scoring for the past two seasons.

A standout at the University of Washington, Richards had 31 goals and 15 assists in 72 games for the Huskies.

Richards is Portland’s first homegrown player. Terms of his deal were not announced.