The Portland Timbers today announced the club has signed Japanese defender Takuro Nishimura for the 2009 season pending league and USSF approval. Nishimura has been on trial with the club since the start of preseason training camp.
A native of Tokyo, Japan, Nishimura, 31, joins the Timbers after playing the previous seven seasons in Japan's J-League with the Urawa Red Diamonds (2001-04) and Omiya Ardija (2004-08). In 2004, he helped Urawa to a second-place finish in Japan's top division called J-League 1. Nishimura also aided in Omiya Ardija's promotion into J-League 1 following the 2004-05 season. In total, he appeared in 90 league matches during his career in Japan.
Prior to his professional career, Nishimura attended Kokushikan University from 1997-2000. While at Kokushikan University, his team captured the All-Japan Prime Minister Cup. Nishimura was also a part of Japan's youth national team system, competing at the U-14 level.
