PORTLAND, Ore. — The Portland Timbers signed goalkeepers James Pantemis and Trey Muse, the club announced Friday.
Muse, 24, played last season for the Charleston Battery, making 33 starts for the club and helping it reach the 2023 USL Championship final. Muse played two seasons with the Seattle Sounders in 2019 and 2020. Tom Bogert of The Athletic said Charleston will receive a fee from the Timbers for Muse.
Pantemis, 26, played the past six seasons with CF Montreal. Last season, Pantemis made just five appearances for Montreal, including two starts. In 2022, he was named to the Canadian Men's National Team for the FIFA World Cup.
Both players are signed through 2025 with club options for 2026.
The Timbers now have four goalkeepers on their roster: Muse, Pantemis, Hunter Sulte and Aljaz Ivacic, though Ivacic has asked Portland to trade him. On Nov. 30, the Timbers said they remained in discussions with last season's starting goalkeeper, David Bingham, whose contract expired at the end of the season.
Bogert said in a tweet that the the Timbers are "not done at GK yet."
Ned Grabavoy, the general manager of the Timbers, said in a news release that the team has been looking to overhaul its goalkeeping group this offseason.
"One of our main priorities this offseason was to recreate our goalkeeping group, and that work is well underway," Grabavoy said. "We are excited to welcome both James and Trey to the Portland Timbres. Both players have good experience with upside and will help create healthy competition within this position as we move forward."
Timbers trade for defender Kamal Miller
On Thursday, the Timbers announced they'd completed a trade with Inter Miami CF for defender Kamal Miller. The Timbers sent a total of $625,000 in general allocation money and an international roster spot. The deal includes performance-based incentives worth another $150,000 in general allocation money.
An MLS All-Star in 2022, Miller, 26, started 21 games for Miami last season, helping them win the 2023 Leagues Cup. He previously played for Orlando City SC and CF Montreal. Miller has made 41 appearances, including 37 starts, for the Canadian Men's National Team.
Timbers head coach Phil Neville said acquiring Miller was a top priority for Portland.
"Kamal was our number one target when I first got to Portland," Neville said in a news release. "He brings great quality and experience being a regular for Canada, having played at a top level in the World Cup and being one of the top center backs in the league. Kamal is a winner that provides us with character and personality and will help us get stronger in the backline. Can’t wait to get working with him again, having worked with him at both Miami and Canada."
Miller is now under contract with the Timbers through 2026 with a club option in 2027. He'll occupy an international spot on Portland's roster.
