PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers today announced that the club has signed midfielder Sebastián Blanco to a multi-year contract extension as a Designated Player.
In three seasons since joining Portland in 2017, Blanco, 31, has tallied 29 goals and 32 assists in 108 appearances (102 starts) for the Timbers in MLS regular season, postseason and U.S. Open Cup play. In 35 appearances (33 starts) for Portland across all competitions in 2019, Blanco tallied seven goals and 13 assists.
Blanco, the Timbers’ Players’ Player of the Year and Supporters’ Player of the Year in 2018, posted a career-high 10 goals and 11 assists in league play in 2018. Additionally, Blanco tallied three goals during last season’s postseason run, helping the Timbers claim the 2018 Western Conference Championship and reach MLS Cup for the second time in four seasons. The 2018 Timbers’ Play of the Year was awarded to Blanco for his long-range strike in the Timbers’ 3-2 win against Sporting Kansas City in the second leg of the Western Conference Championship on Nov. 29. Additionally, Blanco was twice named the MLS Player of the Week during the 2018 regular-season campaign (Week 28, Week 32).
A native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Blanco tallied eight goals and eight assists in 33 appearances (32 starts) in his first season with the club in 2017. Blanco was one of 11 players in the league during the 2017 regular-season campaign to post at least eight goals and eight assists.
Transaction: Portland Timbers sign midfielder Sebastián Blanco to a multi-year contract extension as a Designated Player.
