Defensively, the Portland Timbers ranked among the league’s worst in 2024, with criticism directed at several areas. Set pieces, individual mistakes, and poor transitions were frequent points of concern. Personnel issues also emerged as a significant talking point, with many fans calling for a new starting center back to be brought in during the primary transfer window to shake things up for the next season.
While that move didn’t happen, the Timbers pursued an alternative solution. Just a couple of weeks ago, the club announced the signing of Colombian defender Jimer Fory to a four-year deal, reportedly for a transfer fee of around $1.5 million. Fory’s services are expected to take up an international roster slot, and the deal includes a club option for the 2029 season.
At fullback, Claudio Bravo and Juan David Mosquera have been fixtures for the past couple of years, both eager to push up the field and join the attack. However, Bravo’s inconsistent concentration and Mosquera’s defensive lapses have created a recipe for disaster. Mosquera, in particular, has often been targeted, switching off defensively and leaving gaps. Their imbalance between attacking and defending has exposed the team on the flanks. As a result, goals have poured in from the opposing side.
Although Fory, 22, comes from the same Categoría Primera A club Mosquera previously played for, he brings a much different profile to the team from his left-back position. He is more disciplined with his defensive positioning and stronger with clearances while possessing the gifted technical abilities people expect from young South American fullbacks.
We’ve seen this front office prioritize adding taller, more athletic players into the squad over the last couple of months, with Kevin Kelsy coming in and Fory fitting that mold as well. Standing at 6-foot-2, he ranks in the 98th percentile in aerial duels won. Not many attackers can outmuscle him in the air on set pieces due to his height, strength, and aggressive approach—music to the ears of Head Coach Phil Neville and his staff, given how much the team has struggled to clear dangerous balls under his leadership.
Fory can also play as a left center-back in a 3-5-2, a formation the Timbers experimented with at times last season, and push forward as a wingback in attacking situations.
It will be very interesting to see if Fory’s name appears at the top or bottom of the team sheet for Sunday’s season opener. He’s gotten plenty of preseason starts and has made a very strong case for the nod, but Neville could also opt to start Bravo for continuity in a year when there has been so much roster turnover.
A couple of things are clear, though: Fory will play, and he will produce significantly for this club in 2025. It will surely be very fun to watch.
