The Portland Timbers have officially acquired center back Claude Dielna in a trade with the New England Revolution.

The Timbers sent $100,000 in General Allocation Money to New England for the rights to Dielna. General Allocation Money can be used to buy down a player’s salary cap hit, to sign new or existing players and to offset acquisition costs.

Dielna, 31, will join the Timbers on a one-year contract.

While Dielna was a Designated Player in New England, he won’t take up a Designated Player spot in Portland. The Timbers are using Targeted Allocation Money to add Dielna to their roster. Targeted Allocation Money can be used to buy down the salary cap hit on players making more than the maximum budget charge.

“Claude is a player we have monitored closely since his arrival in Major League Soccer over a year ago,” said Gavin Wilkinson, general manager and president of soccer for the Timbers, in a prepared statement. “After many discussions with the player, it is clear that he has a keen interest in this opportunity to join the Timbers and contribute to the club’s success. His familiarity with the league, along with his global playing experience will be beneficial to our group.”

Dielna brings valuable experience to the Timbers and shouldn’t take as much time to adjust to his new team as a player coming in from outside MLS. Being able to quickly integrate Dielna could be important to the Timbers as they start the 2019 season with 12-straight games on the road.

Dielna is a left-footed defender that could slot in alongside center back Larrys Mabiala on the Timbers' backline, but Dielna won’t immediately be handed the starting spot. Timbers center backs Bill Tuiloma and Julio Cascante will compete with Dielna for a starting spot. Tuiloma, 23, and Cascante, 25, are both seen as capable defenders that could be long-term options for the Timbers at the center back position.

“Our coaching staff has a strong belief that Claude will be a very solid central defender within our group,” said Giovanni Savarese, head coach of the Timbers, in a prepared statement. “His qualities will pair well with an already strong defensive contingent. He has shown great motivation in coming to Portland, and we anticipate him being a positive addition as he integrates with our club this preseason.”

The Revolution originally acquired Dielna as a Designated Player midway through the 2017 season. The French defender made 26 starts (28 appearances) over a year and a half with New England. Dielna played in 17 matches (15 starts) during 2018, but lost his starting spot last July and didn’t make a single appearance for New England in the final three months of the season.

Prior to joining the Revolution, Dielna played in over 160 matches in Europe for six different teams across France’s Ligue 1 and Ligue 2, England’s English Football League Championship, Slovakia’s Slovak Super Liga and Romania’s Liga 1.

-- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com

503-853-3761 | @jamiebgoldberg

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