CINCINNATI – FC Cincinnati has acquired defender Alvas Powell from the Portland Timbers in exchange for $250,000 in General Allocation Money. In addition, Portland will retain a percentage of any future transfer fee if Powell is transferred outside MLS. Powell, 24, joins FC Cincinnati after playing his previous six professional seasons with the Portland Timbers.
A U.S. permanent resident, Powell will occupy a domestic roster spot on Cincinnati’s 2019 MLS roster.
Last season, Powell made 24 appearances, all starts, and equaled career-highs with two goals and three assists for MLS Cup finalist Portland. The St. Thomas, Jamaica, native logged 2,000 minutes played for the third time in the last four seasons. Powell was part of two Timbers sides that advanced to MLS Cup, including the Timbers team that captured the first-ever MLS Cup in club history in 2015.
“Alvas is another strong addition to our backline,” FC Cincinnati Head Coach Alan Koch said. “Although he is a great defender, he is exceptional at going forward and can create goal-scoring opportunities for our team. He has had sustained success throughout his MLS career and we believe his best years as a player are still ahead of him.”
Over the course of his six seasons with the Timbers, Powell made 121 MLS regular-season appearances, including 112 starts, scored six goals and added 10 assists. In addition, Powell has made 11 career MLS Cup Playoffs appearances, with nine starts.
After playing his first two professional seasons in Jamaica with Portmore United, Powell earned a loan spell with the Portland Timbers in June of the 2013 MLS season. Powell made a combined 20 appearances, including 15 starts, while on loan and signed with the Timbers permanently prior to the 2015 MLS season. At just 20 years old in 2015, Powell emerged as a regular starter for the Timbers. He made a career-high 31 regular-season starts in addition to starts in all six of Portland’s matches in the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Powell has earned 35 caps for Jamaica since making his international debut in 2012. With Jamaica, Powell has competed in the 2015 and 2017 Concacaf Gold Cups, FIFA World Cup qualifiers, the 2012 and 2014 Caribbean Cups, as well as international friendlies. The Jamaican played all but seven minutes for the Reggae Boyz in their run to the 2017 Concacaf Gold Cup final.
The next time Cincinnati takes the field, it will be as MLS’ 24th team in 2019 when the club debuts in the top professional league in the U.S. and Canada. Season tickets for the 2019 season are now on sale at fccincinnati.com/tickets.
For up-to-the-minute information about FC Cincinnati, visit the team’s official website at fccincinnati.com, or follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @FCCincinnati. For more information about FC Cincinnati tickets - including 2019 season tickets - call 513-977-KICK (5425) or visit fccincinnati.com/tickets.
Transaction: FC Cincinnati acquired D Alvas Powell from the Portland Timbers in exchange for $250,000 in General Allocation Money on Dec. 27, 2018.
ALVAS POWELL
Position: Defender
Height: 6-0
Weight: 165
Birthdate: July 18, 1994
Birthplace: St. Thomas, Jamaica
Hometown: St. Thomas, Jamaica
Last Club: Portland Timbers (MLS)
Nationality: Jamaica
MLS Roster Status: U.S. Permanent Resident
Twitter: @powellalvas
How Acquired: Via trade from the Portland Timbers in exchange for $250,000 in General Allocation Money on Dec. 27, 2018
