Timbers sign midfielder Eryk Williamson to multi-year contract extension

February 3, 2021; Portland, OR, USA; Eryk Williamson signs a new contract. Photo: Craig Mitchelldyer-Portland Timbers

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers today announced that the club has signed midfielder Eryk Williamson to a multi-year contract extension.

Williamson, 23, tallied three goals and five assists in a career-high 21 appearances (17 starts) for Portland in 1,417 minutes of action during the 2020 MLS regular season. Notably, Williamson delivered four game-winning assists during regular-season play, which ranked second in the league in 2020.

“Signing Eryk has been a key objective of the club’s for the past 12 months and we are delighted that Eryk’s belief in the club mirrors our belief in him,” said Gavin Wilkinson, Timbers general manager and president of soccer. “Eryk is a unique talent and we are looking forward to seeing his continued growth and performance as a Timbers player.”

The Alexandria, Va., native tallied three goals and six assists in 26 appearances (22 starts) across all competitions for the Timbers in 2020. The midfielder tallied two assists in seven appearances (6 starts) in the summer’s MLS is Back Tournament in Orlando, Fla. Notably, Williamson registered the game-winning assist in the Timbers’ 2-1 win over Orlando City SC in the MLS is Back Tournament Final on Aug. 11.

February 3, 2021; Portland, OR, USA; Eryk Williamson signs a new contract. Photo: Craig Mitchelldyer-Portland Timbers

“Eryk is an extremely talented and creative player with many great attributes on and off the field,” said Giovanni Savarese, Timbers head coach. “I very much believe in the development of American players and am incredibly excited to see him continue his career in Portland.”

Since his MLS Homegrown Player rights were acquired in a trade with D.C. United on Jan. 23, 2018, Williamson has notched three goals and six assists in 35 games played (25 starts) across all competitions for the Timbers. Additionally, Williamson tallied seven goals and 11 assists in 2,862 minutes played across 34 appearances (34 starts) for T2, on loan from the Timbers, in the USL Championship (2018-19).

At the international level, Williamson was most recently called in by the U.S. U-23 Men’s National Team for a two-week camp from Jan. 9-24 at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. While competing at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in the summer of 2017, Williamson started four of the five matches, helping the U-20 USMNT advance to the quarterfinals of the tournament.