Portland, Houston, San Diego get reinforcements

With the primary transfer window in MLS

closing next week, GIVEMESPORT insider Tom Bogert brings you the latest going on in the league, starting with the Portland Timbers

making an addition…

Portland acquire Fernandez: Sources

The Portland Timbers have acquired midfielder Omir Fernandez from the Colorado Rapids

, sources tell GIVEMESPORT. The deal is for $200,000 GAM plus another $50,000 GAM in add-ons. Colorado has already used allocation money to buy down Fernandez this season, meaning he will hit the Timbers salary cap at a reduced number. The Timbers get a versatile option in attack who can play through the center or on either wing, while Colorado give Fernandez the chance for more minutes elsewhere.

Colorado acquired attacker Teddy Ku-DiPietro this winter from D.C. United
, and he made his debut last week after recovering from a shoulder injury, giving the club a glut of attackers around stars Djordje Mihailovic and Rafa Navarro.

Fernandez, 26, appeared in all eight games for the Rapids this season, but all appearances came off the bench, totaling 182 minutes.

The creative attacker should have a pathway to more minutes in Portland, even after welcoming back DP winger Jonathan Rodriguez last weekend. Rodriguez was injured to start the year.

Fernandez has already accrued 153 career MLS regular-season appearances between the NY Red Bulls

and Rapids. His most productive season was his final in New York in 2023, when he had six goals and three assists in just under 1,700 minutes. He was one of the most coveted free agents following the season and signed with Colorado, where he reunited with former Red Bulls coach Chris Armas.

Portland and Colorado are both off to strong starts this season, each with 14 points after eight matches.

San Diego to acquire Verhoeven: Sources

San Diego FC

are finalizing a deal to sign U.S. youth international defender Oscar Verhoeven, sources tell GIVEMESPORT.

The deal is a loan with a purchase option, sources add. San Diego’s pursuit of Verhoeven has been in the works for a number of weeks, with the sides striking a deal this week.

Verhoeven, 18, made nine first-team appearances for the Quakes and another 36 with the second team after graduating from the academy.

The right-back should have a clearer pathway to minutes in San Diego and, if the fit works for both sides, can make his loan a permanent stay.

Trade market heating up

With the primary transfer window deadline approaching next week, urgency in potential trade talks between MLS clubs has increased, sources across the league tell GIVEMESPORT.

previously revealed by GIVEMESPORT
, two names to watch are New England’s Noel Buck and Inter Miami’s Julian Gressel. San Jose are in pursuit of Buck, among other MLS clubs, sources say, and several teams have called for Gressel, who prefers to remain on the East coast. The MLS veteran is yet to make his regular season debut as he is not in the plans of head coach Javier Mascherano and the club are motivated to move him on to free up valuable salary cap space. It’s likely Miami will have to retain a portion of Gressel’s contract.

The are plenty of conversations for other players around the league, with San Jose among the clubs aggressively looking to add to their squad before the deadline. Real Salt Lake are also aggressively looking for reinforcements, with GIVEMESPORT previously revealing the latest on their chase for a new striker.

MLS Transfers to Watch One Week Before Deadline

There are only eight days left until the primary transfer window closes in MLS, and there is still plenty of work to be done.

Houston to sign forward: Sources

The Houston Dynamo

are finalizing a deal to sign forward Toyosi Olusanya from St. Mirren. The Daily Record first reported.

Olusanya, 27, gives Houston another striker behind striker Ezequiel Ponce. He plays wide on either wing too.

The English forward has 12 goals and two assists in around 2,500 mins this season in Scotland.

Houston have been busy at the end of the winter, signing DP No. 10 Ondřej Lingr, midfielder Duane Holmes, center back Pablo Ortiz and goalkeeper Jonathan Bond.

Charleston Battery to sign Rubin: Sources

The Charleston Battery are finalizing a deal to sign Guatemala international forward Rubio Rubin, sources tell GIVEMESPORT.

Rubin, 29, featured for Liga MX side Queretaro and Real Salt Lake

in recent seasons. He has 11 goals in 30 caps for Guatemala and his last run in the USL Championship was hugely successful, with five goals in just 270 minutes for San Diego Loyal in 2020.

The center forward had three goals in 423 minutes on loan in Liga MX last year.

The Battery are putting together an all-star attack with Rubin, Cal Jennings, MD Myers and Jackson Conway all in the mix. Jennings already has five goals in five matches, while Myers returned from injury and has a goal in just 111 minutes played so far.

Charleston had to replace reigning USL Championship record-setter Nick Markanich, who was transferred to Spanish club CD Castellon this winter.