Fury FC adds Portilla, Porter
Ottawa Fury FC has signed Spanish midfielder Cristian Portilla and Canadian Kyle Porter.
Both players have been on trial with the club since training camp opened Jan. 29.
Portilla’s professional career began at age 16 with the B-side of his hometown club Racing de Santander for three seasons before he was called up to the parent club and featured in Spain’s La Liga. His 14-year career also included stints in the Spanish Segunda Division, the Greek Superleague and Football League, the Hungarian championship, the Cypriot First Division and the North American Soccer League, where he played with the 2017 Soccer Bowl-champion San Francisco Deltas.
“To add Portilla’s experience, ability, intelligence and vision to our club fills a gap that we’ve been missing here for quite some time,” Fury FC general manager Julian de Guzman said. “We’re very happy to have this addition. He could be a huge difference-maker for us.”
Porter is yet another player making a return in Fury colours. Raised in Mississauga, he joined the Vancouver Whitecaps Residency program in 2007 and in 2008 was loaned to Energie Cottbus, where he would feature in the German club’s U19 and U23 sides and Cottbus II before returning to the Whitecaps in 2010.
Porter’s pro career continued in North America, with more than 125 matches split between FC Edmonton, D.C. United, Richmond Kickers, Atlanta Silverbacks, Fury FC in 2016 and most recently with the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
“Kyle brings valuable experience in NASL and USL and he’s not here just to be a squad player,” de Guzman said. “We feel he has the ability to be in our starting 11, whether it’s at right back or on the wing. He’s hungry and definitely ready to prove himself.”
Fury FC opens the 2018 United Soccer League regular season with a March 17 road game against the Charlotte Independence.