T2 Announce 14 Player Signings Ahead of 2023 MLS Next Pro Season

March 2, 2023 – MLS NEXT Pro (MLS NEXT Pro) – Portland Timbers 2 News Release

PORTLAND, Ore. – Timbers2 have signed 14 players ahead of the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro season, the club announced today.

Four players (Julian Bravo, Victor Griffith, Dawson McCartney, Selmir Miscic) are returning for their second MLS NEXT Pro season with T2. The club signed all four of its 2023 MLS Superdraft picks (Noel Caliskan, Ryan Bilichuk, Jaden Jones-Riley, Tyler Clegg) to T2 contracts. Six new players (Keesean Ferdinand, Carver Miller, Joshua Penn, Blake Pope, Michael Vang, Tristan Weber) have signed new contracts with the club. Players from the Portland Timbers’ first team and academy will supplement the roster, subject to change ahead of each game.

Bilichuk, a 22-year-old goalkeeper, was selected in the second round (No. 44 overall) by the Timbers in the 2023 MLS Superdraft out of Elon University. Bilichuk made one appearance for the Timbers at the 2023 Coachella Valley Invitational preseason tournament, logging 27 minutes against Toronto FC on February 15.

Bravo, a 22-year-old defender, was drafted by Portland in the second round of the 2022 MLS SuperDraft. In the 2022 MLS NEXT Pro campaign, Bravo made 19 appearances (18 starts) for T2, recording one assist in his debut season.

Caliskan, a 22-year-old midfielder, was selected in the first round (No. 15 overall) by the Timbers in the 2023 MLS Superdraft out of Loyola Marymount University. Caliskan made three appearances for Portland at the 2023 Coachella Valley Invitational preseason tournament, earning a start against Toronto FC on February 15 and coming off the bench in the matches against LA Galaxy (February 12) and NYCFC (February 18).

Clegg, a 22-year-old defender, was drafted in the third round (No. 85 overall) by Portland in the 2023 MLS Superdraft out of James Madison University. Clegg made two appearances for the Timbers at the 2023 Coachella Valley Invitational preseason tournament, coming off the bench against Toronto FC on February 15 and against NYCFC on February 18.

Ferdinand, a 19-year-old defender, joins T2 from the Montreal Impact. Ferdinand signed a homegrown contract with the Impact in 2020 at age 16, making him the youngest signing in Montreal’s history. While on loan from the Impact, Ferdinand made 17 appearances for Atlético Ottawa in the Canadian Premier League in 2021 and another 17 appearances in 2022 with the CF Montreal U23s.

Griffith, a 22-year-old midfielder, returns for a second season with T2…