The news broke on the morning of Dec. 8, just as a truck carrying the Portland Timbers began to make its way down SW Broadway and thousands of fans started to cheer at the sight of the 2015 MLS Cup champions.

The Timbers were making the difficult, but necessary decision to transfer left back and fan-favorite Jorge Villafana to Liga MX side Santos Laguna. He would become the first starter from the MLS Cup championship team to leave Portland.

But the Timbers had a plan.

They had identified a player with immense potential to replace Villafana. Three days later, they announced the signing of 25-year-old Chris Klute.

"Jorge ended up in really good form and made a lot of progress during his time here and he was a big piece," Timbers coach Caleb Porter said. "Looking at replacing him, we saw the opportunity to bring in Klute. We were surprised that we were able to get him to be honest because I do think he has the ability to be one of the better left backs in the league."

Klute, who began his professional career in 2012 with the Atlanta Silverbacks of the North American Soccer League, made a name for himself in MLS in 2013 when he led the Colorado Rapids with seven assists in 30 starts and earned the team's Defensive Player of the Year award. His performance also earned him a call-up to the U.S. National Team in January of 2014, but he was released from camp before earning his first cap.

Since that breakout season, things haven't gone as smoothly for Klute.

"It has definitely been up and down since that year," Klute said. "It was tough, obviously. I'm not a different player than two years ago."

Klute had a much less productive year for Rapids in 2014, suffering a hamstring injury early in the season and going on to earn just one assist in 24 starts.

The left back was traded to the Columbus Crew ahead of the 2015 season and arrived in Ohio looking for a fresh start. But Klute was forced to fight for playing time with Costa Rican international Waylon Francis and found himself riding the bench for the majority of the year, making just eight starts.

"When I went to Columbus they had already had a starting left back, so it was more about depth for me being on their team, just using me whenever they needed me," Klute said. "Coming here, hopefully I get a little more playing time. More playing time for me is more confidence."

In many ways, Klute's path to Portland mirrors Villafana's road to the Timbers.

Villafana arrived in Portland ahead of the 2014 season as almost an afterthought in a trade with Chivas USA that the Timbers made to primarily secure Steve Zakuani.

But it was Villafana that flourished in Portland. Under the guidance of Porter, the left back developed on the field in 2014 and forced his way into the starting lineup. In 2015, Villafana became a mainstay on the field for the Timbers, ending his Portland career on a high note by shutting down MLS Best XI player Ethan Finlay in the MLS Cup final to help lead the Timbers to the championship.

"Everybody obviously remembers where Jorge ended, but if you remember, when got him out of Chivas, I don't think anybody thought twice," Porter said. "You look at where guys end, but you got to remember where they came from and what they were like when you first got them."

Klute has already had more success in MLS than Villafana had when he arrived in Portland, but he is still keenly aware that he has big shoes to fill at the Timbers left back spot.

Still, Klute believes that he has what it takes to be a major asset for Portland this season. Klute, who is soft-spoken, but talks with confidence, said that he is at his best in 1v1 situations, but is also a well-rounded player that can get up the field and contribute in the attack.

"(Villafana) set a bar for me coming into this season and I hope to meet it," Klute said. "MLS Cup, that's the goal, help this team get another championship."

Klute has spent the first few days of preseason training working with a trainer as he recovers from an offseason meniscus surgery, but Porter said he expects his new left back to be back in full training in the next few days.

And, after two up and down seasons, Klute is ready to prove himself in Portland and make the most out of every minute that he has on the field.

"Every day is a motivation for me to show everyone I'm one of the top left backs in the league," Klute said. "Every opportunity I've gotten, I've tried to take it to the fullest and that's what I plan on doing while I'm here."

-- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com

503-853-3761 | @jamiebgoldberg