The Portland Timbers have reportedly transferred left back Jorge Villafana to Mexican Liga MX side Santos Laguna

Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl reported Tuesday that the Timbers were transferring their starting left back for a transfer fee just under $1 million, an offer that would have been too good for the club to refuse.

The allocation money that the Timbers will likely receive through the transfer will allow Portland to better negotiate the salary cap next season and, with the transfer, Villafana will likely receive a substantial pay raise from his reported $135,000 salary.

After securing his spot in the starting lineup late in 2014, Villafana was a critical part of Portland's stingy back line this season.

The left back helped the Timbers earn a league-leading 13 clean sheets in 2015, while also providing an offensive punch from the left flank. Villafana recorded a career-high five assists for Portland in 2015 thanks in part to his deft ability to whip pinpoint crosses into the box from the left side.

Villafana grew up in Mexico and moved to Anaheim, California at the age of 15. He famously earned his first professional contract through a reality television show competition called "Sueno MLS," beating out more than 2,000 other players to sign with now-defunct MLS club Chivas USA.

After seven seasons with Chivas, The Timbers acquired Villafana, who had played under Timbers coach Caleb Porter when he competed for the U.S. National Team's U-23 squad in 2012, through a trade ahead of the 2014 season.

Portland struggled on defense for much of 2014, but finally pulled things together late in the year when Porter settled on a back line that included Villafana, Alvas Powell and Liam Ridgewell.

The left back became a mainstay on the field and fan-favorite in 2015. He made a career-high 33 starts and continued to get better and better as the season progressed.

Villafana had one of his best performances of the year Sunday in the MLS Cup Final, completely shutting down Columbus Crew winger Ethan Finlay, who was named to the MLS Best XI this season, while also finding opportunities to bomb forward into the attack and send dangerous crosses into the box.

The exit of Villafana leaves the Timbers, who also announced earlier this week that they were declining the contract option on backup Jeanderson, very short-handed at left back. Portland will clearly be in the market for full backs during the offseason.

Earlier this year, the Oregonian/OregonLive published a lengthy profile on Villafana and his journey from a reality television show to success with the Timbers.

-- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com

503-853-3761 | @jamiebgoldberg