Steven Taylor joins Portland Timbers after leaving boyhood club Newcastle


STEVEN TAYLOR has completed his move to MLS side Portland Timbers.

The long-serving Newcastle hero, 30, called time on his 21-year Tyneside stay at the end of June when his contract expired.

Ex-Newcastle ace Steven Taylor has joined MLS club Portland Timbers
Former Newcastle ace Steven Taylor has joined MLS club Portland Timbers
The Newcastle hero ended a 21-year stay at Newcastle when his contract ran out in June
Toon hero ended a 21-year stay at Newcastle when his contract ran out in June

Taylor held talks with clubs in Turkey and the Qatar but underwent a medical with the reining MLS Cup champions last week before the team announced the deal on Monday.

He said: “The excitement I’ve got is like when I left school at 16 to play professional – it’s like a new lease of life.

“To be on the same pitch with the likes of Pirlo, David Villa, Lampard, Gerrard and Keane is going to be good for me.
“It will be raising my game week in, week out and having the buzz back as well as enjoying my football.”

 

Head coach Caleb Porter admits Taylor’s wealth of experience will see him hit the ground running in the States.

He added: “Steven Taylor gives us a proven piece that can step into our backline and perform immediately.

“His experience and leadership will be very important to our team down the stretch.”

Portland Timbers head coach Caleb Porter thinks Steven Taylor will hit the ground running
Portland head coach Caleb Porter thinks Steven Taylor will hit the ground running

Taylor made more than 190 Premier League appearances for Toon, scoring 12 goals.

The centre-back also played in the Europa League during the 2012/13 season and helped the Magpies win the 2006 Uefa Intertoto Cup.

Taylor’s final season on Tyneside ended in disappointment, though, as his boyhood club were relegated from the Prem.
FACEBOOK-PROMO-NEWCASTLE


Leave a comment