The Portland Timbers are betting on their future and doing by building with its youth. This is the case in the town hall meeting when Gavin Wilkinson gave Gio the green light to announce the club’s newest addition in 2021 draftee Diego Gutierrez.
Gutierrez, 23, was drafted in the 2021 draft by the Timbers in the MLS SuperDraft Draft overall 70th from Creighton University to a one-year contract with three club option years. In this 2022 he showed up his skills in the Timbers preseason against Minnesota United, Real Salt Lake and Viking FK at Providence Park.
Back in 2021 he was drafted by the Portland Timbers as the Omaha, Nebraska native, decided to finish his five-year collegiate career in 2021 before joining Portland after playing three seasons with the University of Nebraska. He then transferred to Creighton University in 2020.
At Creighton, Gutierrez started in 29 of 30 appearances, recording 16 goals and 13 assists in two seasons. At Nebraska, the forward started in 37 of 44 appearances, tallying 10 goals and 13 assists. Gutierrez earned BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year and All-BIG EAST First Team honors in 2021 and finished as the BIG EAST leader in points (27), goals (10) and assists (7) in 2021.
Portland Timbers 2022 Roster (as of Feb. 25)
Goalkeepers: David Bingham, Aljaz Ivacic, Hunter Sulte, Justin Vom Steeg
Defenders: Pablo Bonilla, Claudio Bravo, Larrys Mabiala, Zac McGraw, Justin Rasmussen, Bill Tuiloma, Josecarlos Van Rankin, Dario Zuparic
Midfielders: David Ayala, Sebastián Blanco, Blake Bodily, Diego Chara, Yimmi Chara, George Fochive, Marvin Loría, Santiago Moreno, Cristhian Paredes, Eryk Williamson
Forwards: Dairon Asprilla, Diego Gutierrez, Tega Ikoba, Felipe Mora, Jaroslaw Niezgoda
Source: Portland Timbers Communications
