Timbers Sign Free Agent Defender Brandon Bye
MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers Sign Free Agent Defender Brandon Bye

Published on December 22, 2025 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Timbers have signed free agent defender Brandon Bye, the club announced today. Bye is set to join the Timbers through December 2027 with an option through June 2028.

"We are pleased with the addition of Brandon, and we look forward to welcoming him to the Portland Timbers," said Timbers General Manager Ned Grabavoy. " Brandon provides us with an experienced option across our backline as we look to strengthen our defensive group ahead of next season. His ability and experience will help drive competition, and we believe he will settle in quickly with our group."

Bye, 30, joins Portland ahead of his ninth season in MLS. Since being drafted eighth overall by the New England Revolution in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft, the defender has made 192 regular season appearances (161 starts), recording 10 goals and 18 assists across eight seasons for the Revs. Most recently, Bye logged 26 appearances (12 starts) in the 2025 campaign for New England.

"Brandon is a brilliant defender who brings a wealth of experience and success," Timbers head coach Phil Neville shared. "His athletic ability and skill has stood out to me since my time in this league, and I'm confident he's going to add competition at his position and will raise the standards in the locker room."

A native of Kalamazoo, Mich., Bye played four seasons of college soccer for the Western Michigan University Broncos prior to his 2018 MLS SuperDraft selection. Collegiately, he amassed 22 goals and 19 assists in 67 appearances (62 starts) and over 5,000 minutes played. Notably, he became the first MLS SuperDraft selection in Western Michigan's history.

Transaction: Portland Timbers sign free agent defender Brandon Bye through December 2027 with an option through June 2028.

Brandon Bye Assets

Brandon Bye

Full name: Brandon Bye

Position: Defender

Height: 6-0

Date of Birth: November 29, 1995

Age: 30

Birthplace: Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA

Last Club: New England Revolution

Portland Timbers 2026 Roster

*as of Dec. 22

Goalkeepers (3): Trey Muse, James Pantemis, Hunter Sulte

Defenders (8): Brandon Bye, Jimer Fory, Sawyer Jura, Zac McGraw, Kamal Miller, Juan Mosquera, Ian Smith, Finn Surman

Midfielders (5): David Ayala, Diego Chara, David Da Costa, Omir Fernandez, Joao Ortiz

Forwards (7): Antony, Gage Guerra, Kevin Kelsy, Ariel Lassiter, Felipe Mora, Jonathan Rodríguez, Kristoffer Velde

Check out the Portland Timbers Statistics

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