ACQUIRED: On April 28, 2023 to a one-year deal with club options in 2024 and 2025. Noel Caliskan was selected by Portland in the first round (No. 15 overall) of the 2023 MLS SuperDraft out of Loyola Marymount University.
2023: Recorded his first MLS goal contribution with an assist against Colorado on Sept. 23.... Earned his first MLS start on July 1, playing 90 minutes against Minnesota... Made his MLS debut as a halftime substitute on June 24 against NYCFC... Earned a second start in Open Cup play against RSL on May 10, tallying two assists... Made his debut for Portland on April 26, 2023 in the Timbers’ Round of 32 Open Cup match against Orange County SC, playing 90 minutes.
2023 MLS Pro Next: Played in 13 matches (10 starts) for T2, registering four goals and two assists.
CAREER: In his four years at Loyola Marymount University (2019-2022), Caliskan registered nine goals and 13 assists in 65 appearances (64 starts). The Cologne, German native had a decorated collegiate career, including West Coast Conference Midfielder of the Year in back-to-back seasons (2022, 2021), WCC Offensive Player of the Year (2021), WCC Player of the Year (2020), WCC Freshman of the Year (2019) and was a MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist following his junior season (2021). Caliskan was named to the All-WCC First Team in his last three seasons with the Lions (2020-2022) and was honored on the All-WCC Second Team his freshman year (2019).
At the youth level, Caliskan played club soccer at FC Köln from 2012-2017 and Fortuna Düsseldorf from 2017-2019.
