The Portland Timbers have acquired Peru international winger Andy Polo on a one-year loan deal from Morelia, the club announced on Wednesday.
The Timbers used Targeted Allocation Money, with a purchase option.
“We are excited to add a young and talented attacking player in Andy Polo,” said Timbers general manager Gavin Wilkinson.
“He has already proved himself at a young age in various leagues and at the international level, and we look forward to welcoming Andy and his family to Portland and MLS.”
The Timbers have acquired 23-year-old Andy Polo on loan from @FuerzaMonarca for the 2018 @MLS season. Welcome to the Rose City, @AndyPolo94!
DETAILS | https://t.co/qzkt6HTl5p #RCTID pic.twitter.com/QPtZborfVu
— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) January 17, 2018
The deal had been rumored for weeks, and Morelia manager Roberto Hernandez had divulged that the transfer was done following his side’s 1-0 Liga MX win over Puebla on Friday, with both sides confirming to ESPN FC on Saturday.
Sources had told ESPN FC that the combined outlay of transfer fee and salary will amount to $3 million over three years and that the targeted allocation money would be used so that Polo won’t count as a designated player.
Polo, 23, joined Morelia just prior to the 2016 Apertura season, and including the 2017 Clausura made 16 league and cup appearances, scoring three goals. But Polo has made less of an impact since then, making just 10 league and cup appearances and failing to find the back of the net.
“Andy is a versatile, young player who will add another element to our attack, and we believe that he has further upside to his development,” said Portland coach Giovanni Savarese.
“Andy has strong technical ability and is able to stretch opponents and run in behind defenses. He will provide us with another quality option as a winger, and we are very pleased to add him to the team this season.”
He has previously been on the books of Colombian side Millonarios, Serie A’s Inter Milan, and both Universitario and Universidad de San Martin.
Polo will be expected to provide more of a pure wide presence as he looks to augment the attacking play of Sebastian Blanco, Fanendo Adi, and reigning league MVP Diego Valeri.
ESPN FC’s Jeff Carlisle contributed to this report.
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