The Portland Timbers made a move to shore up a sagging front line on Tuesday, adding Nigerian forward and Fanendo Adi on loan from Danish first-division side FC Copenhagen.
Adi, 23, will occupy an international roster spot for the Timbers, who have scored just 13 goals in 10 games this season and currently sit in last place in the Western Conference. The 6-foot-4 striker scored three goals in in nine league matches for FC Copenhagen during the 2013-14 Danish Super Ligaen season, and also featured in three group-stage matches during the 2013-14 UEFA Champions League tournament.
“Fanendo is a young and ambitious player with UEFA Champions League experience and we feel that his acquisition on short-term loan, with the option to purchase, provides a great opportunity for both the player and our club,” Timbers general manager Gavin Wilkinson said in a statement. “This loan allows us to add a quality player into the mix as we are always looking to develop our roster now and in the future.”
Prior to joining FC Copenhagen, Adi played for Slovakian second-division side AS Trencin from 2009-11, registering 18 league goals in 41 matches. He tallied 11 goals during the 2010-11 season, helping AS Trencin gain promotion to the first division before signing with Ukrainian club Metalurh Donetsk for the remainder of the 2010-11 Ukrainian first-division season.
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“Adi gives us another striker piece to further strengthen our roster,” Timbers head coach Caleb Porter said in a statement. “His air play and ability to hold the ball as more of a target option will complement the qualities of our other players while providing a different dimension to our attack.”
Adi is a direct replacement for veteran Frederic Piquionne, who was waived on Tuesday.
Piquionne, 35, was signed by the Timbers last February and appeared in 21 games during the 2013 MLS regular season, recording one goal and five assists. This season, he'd made just three substitute appearances before departing last month on what was called a "family issue."
The Timbers also announced Tuesday that midfielder Diego Chara has undergone successful surgery to stabilize a fractured third metacarpal in his left hand, and is expected to miss two weeks.
