FRISCO, Texas – FC Dallas has traded second-year midfielder Eric Alexander to the Portland Timbers in exchange for defender Jeremy Hall, the club announced today. Per team and league regulations, details of the contract were not released.
"This trade is one that was really made to help our defensive line," FC Dallas head coach Schellas Hyndman said. "With all the competitions we’re in, all the traveling and all the playing we’re doing, we felt like we did not have enough depth in our defense. We feel like we have a lot of good midfielders and as much as Eric has contributed to our team, we just feel like we have to protect our defense in case we have injuries or suspensions."
Alexander played 39 games for FC Dallas since being drafted in the third round (44th overall) by FC Dallas in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft. The 23-year old scored two goals and assisted on three others during his first full season in MLS. Alexander has started 16 games for FC Dallas this season, recording a career-high 17 shots in 1,218 minutes played.
Since joining Portland via a trade with the New York Red Bulls on Nov. 11, 2010, Hall has started 17 matches for the Timbers. He has recorded three assists in 1,424 minutes. The 22-year old defender was originally drafted by the Red Bulls in the first round (11th overall) in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft out of the University of Maryland. Hall played 37 regular season games and made 31 starts over his two years with New York, logging two assists.
"Jeremy is a player that I was really fortunate to work with when I went on the Generation adidas trip to Madrid last year," said Hyndman. "I think he’s a solid defender that can play on both sides of the ball, he can get forward, he can serve. He can also go into the midfield and play. I think he’ll be well-liked by the team. I think he fits into the mold of what our team’s all about."
Hall led Maryland with 14 goals, seven assists and 35 points in 2008, helping the school win the 2008 NCAA championship. In three years at Maryland, Hall played in 66 games, tallying 26 goals and 14 assists. He was a member of the U.S. Soccer Residency Program in Bradenton, Fla., where he earned 22 caps with the U.S. U-17 National Team. In 2005, he started 12 games, including six starts at the U-17 World Championships in Peru.
Jeremy Hall
Position: Defender/Midfielder
Height: 5-11
Weight: 165
Born: Sept. 11, 1988, in Tampa, Fla.
Hometown: Tampa, Fla.
Previous Club: Portland Timbers
College: University of Maryland
Citizenship: United States
