Former Sounder Mike Fucito will wear a different shade of green after being acquired by Portland today.
  • Otto Greule Jr./Getty
  • Former Sounder Mike Fucito will soon sport a different shade of green after being acquired by Portland today.

The Timbers nabbed themselves some help up front today, acquiring speedy forward Mike Fucito from Montreal for either a second-round 2013 SuperDraft pick or a 2013 international roster slot—depending on how well Fucito performs.

“Mike is a player who brings MLS and CONCACAF experience to the club,” said Timbers coach John Spencer. “He provides us with another experienced, quality option up top.”

But Fucito also brings a history of conspiring with the enemy. The 26-year-old Harvard man played all of 26 minutes for Montreal this year, but was a fan favorite during his two years with Portland's most bitter rivals, the Seattle Sounders. Timbers fans reacted with perplexity/disdain/humor on Twitter, and the swirl of emotions was only heightened when, less than 90 minutes after Fucito's acquisition was unveiled, the club announced forward Eddie Johnson had retired. The 10-year-professional striker racked up three concussions over the past year, including one during the preseason. Scary.

Said Johnson: “It’s never an easy decision to retire, but I feel great about what I was able to accomplish, the connections I made in the game, and the opportunities it presented. My top priorities are my health and my young family, and I am looking forward to my future.”

Click past the jump for the full press release on Fucito, plus an awesomely narrated video of him in action during CONCACAF Champions League play (where he scored five goals in eight matches). Though I must caution, the highlights prominently feature Seattle's retina-burning "Rave green" jerseys. You've been warned.

Official release:

PORTLAND—The Portland Timbers today acquired forward Mike Fucito from the Montreal Impact. Conditioned upon Fucito's 2012 performance, Montreal will either receive the Timbers’ highest second-round 2013 SuperDraft pick or a 2013 international roster slot (through Dec. 31, 2013). Timbers general manager Gavin Wilkinson made the announcement.

“Mike is a player who brings MLS and CONCACAF experience to the club,” said John Spencer, head coach of the Timbers. “He provides us with another experienced, quality option up top.”

Fucito, 26, was acquired by the expansion Impact on Feb. 17 from Seattle Sounders FC, along with Lamar Neagle, in a trade for U.S. international Eddie Johnson. Selected in the fourth round of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft, Fucito played his first three MLS seasons with Sounders FC, making 23 appearances (13 starts) and recording a career-high two goals and two assists during the 2011 season.

A native of Westford, Mass., Fucito was a key contributor in the 2011 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and also competed with Seattle in the 2010-11 and 2011-12 CONCACAF Champions League tournaments. He has five goals in eight career matches in CONCACAF Champions League play.

He played collegiately at Harvard University, where he ranks among the school’s all-time scoring leaders with 32 goals and 24 assists during his career with the Crimson.