Portland Timbers sign Scottish striker Kris Boyd as Designated Player

The Scottish Premier League's all-time leading scorer joins the MLS side after an unhappy end to a brief spell in Turkey with Eskiserhispor and awaits confirmation of a visa

Jan 30, 2012 10:10:00 PM

By Nick Rosano

More On :  Portland Timbers, Kris Boyd
SPL: Kris Boyd, Rangers v Aberdeen (PA)


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The Portland Timbers have signed Scotland international forward Kris Boyd, the MLS side have announced.

The 28-year-old striker will be added to the Timbers' roster as a Designated Player upon receipt of his P-1 visa and International Transfer Certificate.

"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 organisation," said the Timbers owner and president, Merritt Paulson.

“Kris perfectly fits the profile of the team’s needs and will make a huge impact."

Boyd is the Scottish Premier League's all-time leading scorer, having bagged 164 goals in 10 years with Kilmarnock and Rangers, four times reaching the top of the league's seasonal goal charts.

After splitting a season in the English Championship with Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest, netting six goals for each team, he most recently featured for Eskiserhispor in the Turkish Super Lig, but made just two appearances before terminating his contract, claiming that he had not been paid.

The Irvine-born marksman has appeared 18 times for Scotland since 2006, scoring seven goals in the process, having retired himself from international duty for over a year in protest over the stewardship of then-boss George Burley.

"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.

"We’ve been looking for this type of traditional No. 9 player and are very pleased we found him."

Along with his goalscoring exploits, Boyd earned plenty of silverware with Rangers, collecting two SPL titles, two Scottish Cups, and three Scottish League Cups. He has also featured in the Champions League and Europa League, helping Rangers to the final of the latter competition in 2008.

"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," said Boyd.

With the January window coming to a close on Tuesday, Goal.com is your address for all the latest activity on the transfer market. Stay up to date with what's happening in all the big leagues in our all-day LIVE! for the climax of the transfer window, and read up on what else we have to offer here.

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