The New York Cosmos announced today that Salvadoran midfielder Andrés Flores has signed with MLS’ Portland Timbers.

“Andrés is a good player and a great teammate. A leader on and off the field that helped us win multiple championships,” said Cosmos Chief Operating Officer Erik Stover. “We’re happy that he’s being reunited with Gio in Portland.”

One of 2017’s league leaders in assists with eight, Flores was part of the team that reached the 2017 NASL Final. The 27-year-old played more than 80 official matches with New York in a four-year span. He went to record a total of 10 goals and 18 assists with the club, winning the 2015 and 2016 NASL Championships.

Flores originally joined the Cosmos in July 2014 on loan from El Salvadoran side Turín-FESA, and made a permanent move to New York later that year.

The San Salvador native began his youth career with Academia Chelona and moved to Argentina’s River Plate in 2006, where he spent three years. In 2009, Flores returned to El Salvador with A.D. Isidro Metapán where he made over 60 appearances and led the club to multiple Primera Division titles. In 2012, he joined Viborg FF in Denmark for one year on loan before returning to Metapán.

At the National Team Level, Flores started playing with the Salvadoran U15’s, and continued to move up the ranks to earn U17, U20, U21 and U23 call-ups. He debuted with the senior squad in a March 2008 friendly against Trinidad and Tobago.

Flores led his country to a third-place finish in the 2017 Copa Centroamericana, helping El Salvador qualify for the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup. While with the Cosmos, Flores earned multiple call-ups to the National Team to international tournaments as well as friendly matches, as he captained the team in several occasions. He competed in three editions of both the CONCACAF Gold Cup (2011, 2013, 2015) and Copa Centroamericana (2011, 2014, 2017).

“There is a before and an after in my career and that is the New York Cosmos. This club represented a period of enormous personal and professional growth for me,” said Flores. “I would like to thank Gio Savarese, Mr. Rocco B. Commisso and the front staff and players for four extraordinary years in New York. Last but not least, I would like to thank all the fans for their continuous support and the Salvadoran community of New York for always making me feel right at home”

The Cosmos thank Flores for his time and accomplishments with the club and wish him all the best as he takes the next step in his career in Portland.