Timbers Sign CB Miguel Araujo

The long-awaited center back signing has finally been announced. Peruvian international Miguel Araujo of FC Emmen will join the Portland Timbers in the summer transfer window. 

Let’s start with the basics. Araujo is 28 years old and will turn 29 in October. Officially listed at 5’11” and 157 pounds, Araujo brings European experience from his 4 year stint in the Netherlands and one season with Red Star Belgrade back in 2013-14. He also has 28 caps for the Peruvian national team. 

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Now we can dig into the numbers, and there are a couple of really juicy ones here. Timbers CBs often cycle the ball out to the wings or play long balls over the top. Araujo’s progressive pass and carry numbers give us a true ball-playing center back. This is the Bill Tuiloma replacement we’ve been looking for. Araujo can also hit a mean free kick. The tackle and block numbers are also outstanding. He can be a real difference maker for the Timbers.

Now the question beckons: how does he get integrated into the team? Here’s my idea of a Timbers XI with Miguel Araujo.

Yes, McGraw is at the Gold Cup right now. Larrys Mabiala would be in his spot in the short-term. But Araujo’s ability has now opened the door for the Timbers to try a 3-5-2. And I think it will be very successful. Mosquera and Bravo would be a lot more productive playing as wingbacks. Evander has already been playing as a second striker/trequartista. But the key to the whole team will be Santiago Moreno. His pressing and dribbling ability can allow him to own the center of the pitch and free him up to link with the wingbacks and the two forwards. This also takes some of the creative pressure off of Evander. It will probably look like more of a 3-5-2-1. In terms of substitutes, there will need to be some positional changes to make the formation work. But those changes seem to be a little more natural for some of the bench players. Felipe Mora and Dairon Asprilla would be the primary striker backups. It’s time for Dairon to move inside. Yimmi Chara and Marvin Loria would make ideal wingback substitutes. I think moving Marvin to wingback could really unlock his potential. He already has a non-stop motor and that’s the most important attribute for a player who will need to cover the entire left flank. Plus it opens up his ability to fire in lethal crosses with his gifted left foot. This could be the tactical tweak to save a floundering Timbers season.

In terms of salary, Araujo’s yearly wage of $456,100 can easily fit into the Timbers’ books. The fee hasn’t been confirmed yet, but he only had one year left on his contract. It should be a bargain. Emmen did get relegated, but it was through the relegation match rather than an outright bottom-of-the-table finish. This could be an absolute steal, and with so many Spanish speaking players on the roster the adjustment to the team will probably be pretty easy. 

That’s one deal done and checked off Ned Grabavoy’s summer to-do list. A new winger and an emergency central midfielder are probably still to come. I do like this signing a lot, so I’m pretty confident Portland can get those two remaining signings over the line before the window ends. Araujo won’t be eligible to join the team until July 5th at the earliest. Good start to a busy summer.

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