The 
Portland Timbers are finalizing a deal to sign Norwegian winger Kristoffer Velde from Olympiakos, sources tell GIVEMESPORT.
Portland will pay a fee in the region of $5 million, sources add. Velde will join as a Designated Player.
The Timbers wanted to be aggressive this summer to add to a group they thought was already strong, hoping a couple of signings will push them towards the top of the Western Conference. They sit fifth in the West and have won each of their first two games at the Leagues Cup. Now, they add a new, key DP.
The club placed forward Jonathan Rodriguez on the season-ending injured list, opening a DP spot to facilitate the Velde signing.
Star winter signing David da Costa occupies the other DP spot. The club could keep all three players next season if they want, as winger Santiago Moreno ages out of the U-22 initiative, which would allow the club to use three DP spots. Portland still want to keep Moreno despite a bid from Brazilian club Fluminense, sources say.
Velde, 25, has one cap with the senior Norway national team, which came in 2023. He joined Olympiakos last summer but didn’t get consistent playing time, though he still had six goals and two assists across all competitions.
The winger starred in Poland for Lech Poznan before joining Olympiakos for a reported fee around $4 million. He started his career with Norwegian club Haugesund.
Portland have 10 regular-season games remaining before the playoffs as well as a run in the Leagues Cup.
The Timbers aim to make another significant addition to the team this summer as well, sources say.
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