The Portland Timbers were already going into this offseason looking to add at least one midfielder to the roster, following inconsistent play from Joao Ortiz and with Diego Chara at the latter stages of his career. That need became more pressing when they traded breakout star David Ayala to Inter Miami in a deal that drew a lot of attention across Major League Soccer, in exchange for $2 million in cash. At one point, the club had only three players under contract in the center of the pitch.
Alas, fans are starting to see some actual movement towards a resolution. News broke earlier this month that the Timbers acquired U.S. Men’s National Team product Cole Bassett in another trade with the Colorado Rapids. Bassett, 24, has scored 33 goals and dished out 22 assists in his senior career, which includes stops in Europe at Fortuna Sittard and Feyenoord. The Timbers paid $2.65 million for his services, and he will occupy a U22 Initiative spot as his current contract was signed before his 23rd birthday.
Bassett brings a skill set distinct from the club’s other midfield options, who like to play as traditional holding midfielders. He’s a true modern number eight who dictates tempo in the middle third while consistently crashing the box as a secondary runner, a claim backed up by his frequent presence atop the league’s charts for distance covered. His stamina and ability to consistently see out full matches should offer stability to a Timbers side that needs bodies right now.
They also desperately needed to find more players capable of putting up double-digit contributions following a bottom-10 finish in goals this past season, and having a guy who has built a reputation as a strong finisher be your starting central midfielder alongside a stay-at-home pivot is a logical fix. Bassett is functionally two-footed, which makes him so unpredictable in attack. It allows him to adjust his body positioning mid-run to accommodate crosses from either flank or to take shots from distance without needing to shift the ball onto a preferred foot. It’s why he finished in the 75th percentile in expected goals in 2025, why those in the Centennial State called him ‘Goal Bassett’ during his time here.
It will also help to have someone who knows the ins and outs of MLS take on this huge role for the Timbers in 2026. Part of the reason they struggled so much in the second half of last year stemmed from the front office overhauling the starting lineup with several new additions from outside the country, who needed time to adjust to the travel demands and the physical intensity of American soccer. That won’t be an issue for Bassett.
He’s also a good fit in Head Coach Phil Neville’s high-tempo philosophy. The Englishman has made it very clear that he wants to run a transition-based attack in Portland, and Bassett aligns naturally with that goal. Neville also emphasizes high pressing from his midfielders and attackers, which we already saw the Timbers do a lot of last year, and we know Bassett is comfortable playing that way. With that approach in mind, it becomes clear why signing him was a top priority in the first place.
More still needs to be sorted out at midfield, preferably before the regular season begins, but so far, management has moved in the right direction in filling the massive void left by Ayala.
The best part is that it won’t be long before you get to see Bassett take the field. After wrapping up a week of friendlies in Southern California, the Timbers have returned to the Rose City to continue training ahead of their Feb. 21 season opener versus the Columbus Crew at Providence Park. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM, and all you’ll need is a game ticket or an Apple TV subscription to catch the action.
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