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SportsPortland Timbers sign Dutch forward Vincent Janssen
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The Portland Timbers are set to sign Dutch forward Vincent Janssen as a free agent, according to sources. The 32-year-old former Tottenham Hotspur and AZ Alkmaar striker will not occupy a designated player slot. He joins from Royal Antwerp, where he captained the team and recorded 13 goals and 7 assists last season. Janssen replaces Felipe Mora, who departed for Liga MX's Atlético San Luis after scoring a double in his farewell match. Janssen has prior North American experience with Monterrey, winning the 2021 Concacaf Champions League. He has 22 caps and 7 goals for the Netherlands, including a spot in the 2022 World Cup squad. Portland sits 10th in the Western Conference, two points below the playoff line, under new head coach Martí Cifuentes.
Source report
Updated: July 27, 2026 — 9:00 AM EDT
The Portland Timbers are set to sign Dutch forward Vincent Janssen, sources briefed on the situation tell The Athletic.
Janssen, 32, is a free agent after leaving Royal Antwerp this winter. Sources add that he will not occupy a designated player slot for the Timbers. The deal coincides with the departure of Felipe Mora to Atlético San Luis of Liga MX.
Prior Experience in North America
Janssen has previous experience in the region, having signed for Mexican powerhouse Monterrey from Tottenham in 2019. During his three seasons there, he scored 24 goals and was part of the team’s Concacaf Champions League title in 2021.
Recent Form in Belgium
More recently, Janssen remained productive in Belgium. Last season, he recorded 13 goals and seven assists in 40 appearances (3,579 minutes) across all competitions while captaining Antwerp.
Career Highlights
Janssen has been the subject of several high-value transfers in his career, the largest being his move to Tottenham for approximately $25 million in 2016 from AZ Alkmaar. He had just won the Dutch league Golden Boot with 27 goals in the 2015–16 season.
The center forward earned 22 caps for the Netherlands, scoring seven goals, and was part of the 2022 World Cup squad.
New Era in Portland
Portland is entering a new era under head coach Martí Cifuentes, who took the job earlier this month. Janssen is the first key signing of the summer transfer window, and the team is expected to remain active.
Janssen will compete with Venezuelan international Kevin Kelsy for minutes, and the two may also play together at times. Kelsy, 21, has eight goals this season, including six in his last six matches.
Current Standings and Recent Form
Portland sits 10th in the Western Conference but is just two points below the playoff line with 17 matches remaining. Since returning from a World Cup break, the Timbers have won both matches:
- A 5–1 thrashing of rival Seattle Sounders
- A 2–1 win over Real Salt Lake, spearheaded by a double from Mora, who capped his six-year run in Portland in storybook fashion
What You Should Read Next: MLS says it’ll ‘take it from here’ after the World Cup. So where is the league going? MLS has made a bold proclamation amid its quest to crack the global elite. Will its actions match the stated ambition?
Source
Soccer - The AthleticWestern
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Portland Timbers to sign Dutch, ex-Tottenham forward Vincent Janssen: Sources