AMSTERDAM – Recovering Utrecht attacker Rubio Rubin officially inked a four-year contract with the Eredivisie battlers on Tuesday.
The 18-year-old former Portland Timbers Academy prospect agreed to join the northern Netherlands crew last year but had to wait until his March birthday to come on board. The US youth international began training with the club in the spring and was originally designated for assignment to the reserves but was spending friendly time with the senior side this preseason until suffering a mild concussion and broken nose last weekend.
"FC Utrecht is a wonderful club," Rubin told the official club website. "The people and ambitions of FC Utrecht appeal to me. There was interest from numerous clubs from Europe, but my choice for FC Utrecht is a very conscious one. I hope as soon as possible to be playing in front of the crazy Galgenwaard crowd in the Eredivisie."
The Oregon native is expected back in training next week, with some Utrecht II appearances likely to follow before he sees his Eredivisie debut. The club will open the new season without him with an Aug. 8 trip to PEC Zwolle.
