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Timbers acquire Lawrence Olum from Sporting Kansas City

@SportingKC / Twitter

Ahead of the many tributes sent out to Nat Borchers, the bearded defender who hung up his boots Friday, the Portland Timbers had been working hard behind the scenes to add some versatility to their ranks.

Lawrence Olum, a 32-year-old adept in both defense and midfield, has been snapped up by the Oregon outfit from Sporting Kansas City, in exchange for $50,000 in General Allocation Money and the Timbers' natural first-round pick in 2018's MLS SuperDraft.

The Kenya-born player rejoins the Timbers after representing the franchise in the USL First Division in 2007-08. He ends a seven-year stay in Kansas, where he made 86 regular-season appearances and picked up silverware in the 2013 MLS Cup and 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

"Lawrence will give our club another MLS experienced player at defensive mid and central defender," explained manager Caleb Porter. "He will also increase our size in the squad, which is important in this league.

"We look forward to his contributions, as I know he's eager to be back in Portland playing in front of the Timbers Army again."

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