Argentinian youth international joins Portland from Club Atlético Banfield
PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers today announced that the club has acquired Argentinian youth international defender Claudio Bravo from Liga Profesional de Fútbol side Club Atlético Banfield, signing him to a multi-year contract using Targeted Allocation Money (TAM). Bravo will be added to the Timbers’ roster, pending a physical and receipt of his International Transfer Certificate (ITC) and P-1 visa.
“Signing a player with Claudio Bravo’s skillset and ability is a tremendous positive for the club and our expectations for him as a Timbers player are extremely high,” said Gavin Wilkinson, general manager and president of soccer for the Timbers. “We look forward to integrating him into the group and once he is acclimated we are confident he will be a very effective and dominant left back in our league.”
Bravo, 23, began his career in the youth academy of Banfield, making his debut for the first team as a second-half substitute in a 4-0 win over Rosario Central on Sept. 24, 2017. The defender tallied four assists in 56 appearances (54 starts) across all competitions for Banfield (2017-20). Bravo most recently started in Banfield’s 1-1 draw against Rosario Central on Dec. 4, 2020 in Copa Diego Maradona play. During the 2019-20 campaign, Bravo logged one assist in 17 appearances (17 starts) during Liga Profesional de Fútbol play for Banfield, in addition to making two appearances in the Copa Argentina and one start in the 2020 Copa de la Superliga.
“Claudio is a young talent who has all the attributes for a great future,” said Timbers head coach Giovanni Savarese. “We are very excited to have him, and his skillset is a very good balance of offense and defense at his position.”
The Quilmes, Argentina, native appeared in 17 matches (17 starts) during the 2018-19 season, tallying two assists in Liga Profesional de Fútbol play, while also making two starts in the 2019 Copa de la Superliga. Notably, Bravo made two starts for Banfield in the 2018 Copa Sudamericana. In his first season as a professional during the 2017-18 campaign, Bravo made nine appearances (7 starts) for Banfield.
At the international level, Bravo has made eight appearances for Argentina’s U-23 Men’s National Team, helping them win the 2020 CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament.
Bravo will occupy an international slot on the Timbers roster.
Transaction: Portland Timbers acquire defender Claudio Bravo via transfer from Liga Profesional de Fútbol side Club Atlético Banfield using Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) on Dec. 17, 2020.
Claudio Bravo
Position: Defender
Height: 5-9
Weight: 150
Born: March 13, 1997, in Quilmes, Argentina
Last Club: Club Atlético Banfield (Argentina)
Citizenship: Argentina
Acquired: Acquired via transfer from Superliga Argentina side Club Atlético Banfield using Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) on Dec. 17, 2020.
