Diego Valeri

Designated Player Diego Valeri joins the Timbers on loan from Argentina’s Club Atlético Lanús. He has played more than 150 matches and recorded 25 goals in Argentina’s Primera División since making his professional debut in 2003. He helped Lanús to its first Primera División title in 2007 (Apertura) and has competed in both the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana tournaments. Valeri, who has three caps with the Argentina National Team, spent the 2009-10 season with Portuguese side FC Porto and played in the 2009-10 UEFA Champions League and had a loan spell in Spain’s La Liga with UD Almería.

ACQUIRED: Acquired on loan from Argentina’s Club Atlético Lanús as a Designated Player on Jan. 10, 2013.

2013: Registered one goal and two assists in a 3-0 win May 12 against Chivas USA at JELD-WEN Field ... His four points against Chivas USA tied a Timbers MLS record for points by a player in a single match ... Took a Timbers MLS record 11 corner kicks in the win over Chivas USA ... His pair of assists against the Goats was the second time this season in which he has recorded two assists in a single game and the fifth time in the club's MLS history in which the feat had been accomplished ... Recorded the game-tying and game-winning assist in a 3-2 road win at Sporting KC on April 27, becoming the fourth MLS Timbers player to tallied two assists in one game ... Scored his second goal of the season in a 1-1 road draw at San Jose on April 21, making his return to the Starting XI after missing the previous match due to injury ... Nominated for FutbolMLS.com's Latino de la Jornada (Player of the Week) for Week 8 ... Ranks among league leaders in shots (19), shots on goal (8) and corner kicks (21) ... Started in in each of the first five matches matches of the season (March 3-April 6) ... Recorded at least one shot in five straight matches March 3-April 6 ... Sustained an injury in the first half of a 2-0 win over Houston on April 6 ... Took a team- and season-high six shots – one shot shy of the club’s MLS mark for shots in a single match – against Montreal on March 9 …Recorded five shots in a 1-1 draw against Seattle on March 16 ... Became the fourth player in Timbers MLS history to score in his debut game, tallying a goal March 3 against New York ... Tied the team's single-game high for shots on goal with three on March 3 ... His first MLS goal was named the MLS Goal of the Week for Week 1, garnering 52 percent of the fan vote at MLSsoccer.com ... For his efforts against the Red Bulls, he was selected to the MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week for Week 1.

2012-13: Appeared in 16 league matches for Club Atlético Lanús, scoring two goals during the Inicial phase of Argentina’s Primera División … Tallied in the 87th minute of a 2-0 win over Boca Juniors on Sept. 23 … Scored in a 2-1 victory against San Martín on Nov. 15, finding the back of the net in the 32nd minute … Lanús finished the tournament in fourth place with a 10-5-4 (34pts) record.

2011-12: Played in 28 matches during the season for Lanús … Scored three goals during the Apertura campaign … Logged 75 minutes in the club’s First Stage match of the 2011 Copa Sudamericana against Godoy Cruz on Sept. 7, 2011 … Also played in all eight of the club’s games during the 2012 Copa Libertadores … Scored a goal in a 6-0 victory over Olimpia on April 3, 2012 … Lanús reached the Round of 16 before falling in a penalty-kick shootout to Brazil’s Vasco da Gama.

2010-11: Opened the season on loan to Spanish  side UD Almería and played in nine La Liga matches … Returned to Argentina and captained Lanús to a second-place finish in the Clausura tournament with a record of 10-4-5 (35pts) … Started all 18 of his Primera División appearances and matched a career-best with eight goals … Notched four goals in three matches Feb. 14-26, 2011, including a brace in a 2-1 win over Quilmes on Feb. 26 … Tallied in consecutive matches leading to wins over Huracán (3-0) on May 30 and Independiente (2-1) on June 6.

2009-10: Spent the season with top-flight Portuguese club FC Porto … Made 12 league appearances (2 starts) in Portugal’s La Liga, contributing to a third-place finish in the table … Appeared in two UEFA Champions League fixtures, both group matches against Spain’s Atlético Madrid … Was a 90th-minute substitute in a 2-0 win on Sept. 30, 2009, and started in a 3-0 victory Dec. 8, 2009.

2008-09: Appeared in 27 league games for Lanús in the Primera División, registering two goals … Scored the opening goal of a 2-1 win over Colón SF on March 14, 2009 … Contributed to a 5-1 victory over Independiente April 5, 2009, with a goal in the 12th minute … Played in four matches during the 2009 Copa Libertadores, recording one assist.

2007-08: Had a breakout season, scoring eight goals in 26 matches during league play for Lanús … Aided in Lanús winning its first Primera División championship with a first-place finish in the Apertura tournament at 11-3-5 (38pts) … Recorded one goal and three assists over nine matches during the 2008 Copa Libertadores as Lanús reached the Round of 16 against Mexico’s Atlas … Lanús was the only club to go unbeaten (2-0-4) during the group stage of 2008 tournament.

2006-07: Started 14 of his 20 league appearances for Lanús, his fourth season with the club … Appeared in all four of the club’s matches during the 2007 Copa Sudamericana, playing 336 minutes and recording an assist as Lanús reach the tournament’s Round of 16.

2005-06: Made just seven league appearances during the season for Lanús … Scored his lone goal of the season Nov. 20, 2005, tallying the third goal of a 3-0 win over Colón SF … Also saw action in four of the club’s six matches during the 2006 Copa Sudamericana, scoring one goal … Lanús reached the tournament’s quarterfinal against Mexican club Pachuca.

2004-05: Played in 13 league matches for Lanús and scored his first professional goal.

2003-04: Began his professional career with his hometown club, Lanús, after spending time in its development system … Made his professional debut Sept. 27, 2003, at the age of 18 in a draw against Vélez Sarsfield and finished the season having played in three matches – all as a substitute.

INTERNATIONAL: Has three caps (all starts) with the Argentina National Team … Earned his first cap March 16, 2011, playing the full 90 of a 4-1 victory in a friendly against Venezuela … Started and played 90 minutes of a friendly against Ecuador on April 20, 2011, which finished in a 2-2 draw … Featured in a 4-2 win over Paraguay on May 25, 2011, helping Argentina win the Copa Chaco – a friendly competition.