Done deal: Defender moves from Newcastle to reigning champions

By Dominic Toner

Portland Timbers have signed defender Steven Taylor a month after he ended his 21-year spell at Newcastle, it was confirmed on Monday.

Taylor left the Magpies when his contract expired at the end of June and has joined former Premier League defender Liam Ridgewell at Portland Timbers.

The reigning MLS champions confirmed the deal on the club’s Twitter page.

“Taylor is a player with a wealth of experience in the English Premier League and will be a good fit in our club,” general manager Gavin Wilkinson told the club’s website. “This addition addresses a positional need at a critical stage of the season.”

Boyhood Newcastle fan Taylor joined the Tyneside club as a nine-year-old and he went on to make 268 first-team appearances for the club over a 13-year period.

He decided to leave the north east club last month after his contract expired, despite reportedly being offered a one-year extension by the Championship club.

The centre-back scored 15 goals during his career at St James Park, but injuries marred what is now the latter part of his Newcastle career.

A versatile defender, Taylor was out for up to seven months last season before returning in February as he was unable to prevent the club from getting relegated to the second-tier of English football.

Newcastle supporters will have fond memories of the club’s fan favourite and will wish him all the best as he embarks on a new chapter in his career.

Despite the loss of centre-back Taylor, Rafa Benitez has added Blackburn defender Grant Hanley who joined for a £5.5million fee.

In the latest Newcastle transfer news, the club have agreed terms with an emerging star as the paperwork is finalised.