Jose Adolfo Valencia

Regarded as one of Colombia’s top young players, Valencia was acquired by the Timbers on Dec. 15, 2011. He made his professional debut at the age of 16 and played four seasons (2008-11) for Colombian first-division club Inde­pendiente Santa Fe.

2012: Underwent knee surgery on Feb. 6 to repair damaged cartilage in his left knee. He is expected to be out up to 12 months and miss the 2012 season.

2011: Made 16 appearances for Santa Fe during the Liga Postobón season between multiple U-20 national team call-ups … Scored the equalizing goal against Once Caldas on Nov. 3; Santa Fe would ultimately lose that match, 2-1 … Helped the club to a fourth playoff appearance in four seasons after it finished fifth in the Clausura standings … Came on as a sub in both leg of Santa Fe’s quarterfinal series against Itagüí … Saw action in the second leg of the semifinal series against Once Caldas ... In total, made 38 total career appearances for Santa Fe before joining the Timbers.

2010: Aided in a successful season for Santa Fe, playing in three matches … Santa Fe finished third overall in the aggregate Liga Postobón table, which qualified the club for the 2011 Copa Sudamericana … Santa Fe reached the playoffs of the Clausura campaign and came within a point of reaching the finals.

2009: Saw action in 18 games in his second professional season for Santa Fe … The club finished the Clausura campaign in second place and made a playoff appearance … Santa Fe also claimed the 2009 Copa Colombia – a tournament contested by 36 of Colombia’s top professional clubs – and subsequently qualified for the 2010 Copa Sudamericana.

2008: Signed with Colombian first-division club Independi­ente Santa Fe and made his professional debut at the age of 16, not long after graduating from high school … Ap­peared in one game during the season for Santa Fe, which finished the Liga Postobón’s Apertura campaign in third place … Also spent time with Colombian second-division side Juventud Soacha during his first professional season.

INTERNATIONAL: Played for the Colombia U-20 National Team in 2011 … Called up for the 2011 Toulon Tourna­ment in France … Played in a total of four games during the tournament, facing the U-20 sides for Portugal, Ivory Coast and Italy … Scored the decisive goal against Mexico in a 2-1 semifinal victory … Colombia went on to defeat France’s U-20 side in penalty kicks to win the tournament title … Was a key figure for Colombia in the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup, which was held in Colombia … Started all three group matches, leading Colombia to a perfect 3-0-0 record in group play … Scored the opening goal in a 2-0 win over Mali in group play to secure the team’s place in the knockout rounds … Colombia fell to Mexico in the Round of 16 … Played in all five of Colombia’s games during the tournament.

PERSONAL: Nicknamed “El Trencito” (the Little Train), Valencia is the son of popular former Colombian interna­tional Adolfo Valencia, who played in the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cups … Adolfo Valencia, known as “El Tren” (the Train), had a 16-year professional career (1988-2004), which included stints with Santa Fe, Germany’s Bayern Munich, Spain’s Atlético Madrid and in MLS with the MetroStars from 2000-01.