Finn Surman (Portland Timbers | USA)

You'd hope winning something is on the cards, they wouldnt go there To Louse!

Very Nice. There are a few other French Ligue 1 clubs that offer a pun opportunity

My favourite football related pun.

Headline in The Sun following the below Euros qualifier in 1999. "3 Goals From Scholes Sinks Poles."

The Brits love a quality pun.

Would be surprised if that description was referencing Toulouse. They're not even the biggest sports team in their own city! One of the few places in Europe where you pretty much only see rugby flags and jerseys when walking around the city.

If it is a big club sniffing around, could be Lyon, which would be amazing.

I think PSG, Lyon, Marseille, Lille and Monaco are the only clubs you could describe as “the biggest” in France.

St Ettienne and Bordeaux once upon a time but no longer.

Paris FC aren’t there yet but appear to be very ambitious and have a LOT of money to spend, could be another possibility?

If he sets a record CB transfer price, Lucas Herrington will yes quickly set a new one.

All good stuff for the A League though.

Hopefully some nice add ons in any Surman deal for the Nix.

https://twitter.com/Adam_Susman/status/2074232948745023646

https://twitter.com/Adam_Susman/status/2074232948745023646

Friday

Timbers (13th in the West) restart their MLS season with a Pacific North West derby game at Seattle Sounders (6th)
https://us.soccerway.com/game/portland-timbers-bm8usLzB/seattle-sounders-6P5S63Ah/?mid=fmmHjNDG

Be interesting to see if MLS crowds get a boost off the back of the World Cup. That stadium in Seattle is pretty impressive when full.

The Portland Timbers are currently managed by Interim Head Coach Jack Cassidy. Cassidy, who previously managed the Timbers' MLS NEXT Pro affiliate Timbers2, took over the first team following the departure of Phil Neville in late May 2026. The club is actively conducting a search for a permanent replacement. 

Surman starts

https://twitter.com/TimbersFC/status/2077929753378693617

https://twitter.com/TimbersFC/status/2077929753378693617

Timbers lead 1-0 at HT.

0-4 now, away at their rivals. Great way to re-start the season.

Finished 5-1. Not quite the clean sheet Surman would have liked, but yes a statement win for the Timbers.
Aussie Bonetig on the pine.

https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2026/matches/seavspor-07-16-2026/

Thursday

Portland host Dallas
https://us.soccerway.com/game/fc-dallas-4GtbI4Q1/portland-timbers-bm8usLzB/?mid=QVTbWbR8

0-0 after 30 mins at Providence Park
Surman starting. Bonetig on the pine.

Now Just is in Wales, is the Surmantor (who has Welsh heritage) the next big Kiwi transfer announcement?

1-1 at 80 mins

Finished 2-2. Highlights
https://www.mlssoccer.com/schedule/scores#competition=all&club=all&date=2026-07-23

Timbers host RSL

No more rumors? I see a lot of Swansea fans want a new CB; maybe we could have 3 kiwis starting for Swansea. Finn was born in Wales, so maybe that will help. 

Timbers beat RSL, 2-1.

Full game the Surmanator.

Born in Cardiff, bluebird by birth!

Niche Cache. 
Does the Surmantor best suit a European team setup a certain way, with say a low XG typically?
Like Chiefy's 2023/24 Nix, letting the opposition shoot alot from outside the box.

Sunday

Two weeks after thrashing derby rivals Seattle away 5-1, Timbers host them in Portland
https://us.soccerway.com/game/portland-timbers-bm8usLzB/seattle-sounders-6P5S63Ah/?mid=hEuuHMMc

Surman starts for Timbers.
Edit is 1-1 at HT

Important 2-1 win for Portland. They are 8th in the West, in the playoff mix.

MLS pauses now for the Leagues Cup - MLS & Liga MX combined comp.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xqQ8kjwBA8

https://twitter.com/TimbersFC/status/2083769081447305643

https://twitter.com/TimbersFC/status/2083769081447305643

Seeming more likely he's going to stay till the end of his contract and leave on a free with us missing out on any sell on.
If he signed an extension would we still have a sell on clause?

I'm pretty sure there is an option for another year in his contract.

Still a month to go before the transfer window closes.
Given the strong rumour of lots of European club interest post the WC, I'd be surprised if he was still in Portland by 31st August.

Friday

Leagues Cup. Portland host Puebla from Liga MX
https://us.soccerway.com/game/portland-timbers-bm8usLzB/puebla-pO5ijKm0/?mid=YZIsPcim

Niche Cache.
Derby were 8th in the Championship last season (only 4 pts off the promotion playoffs), so that could be a decent move for Finns S. Playoffs also explanded this season to include the 6 teams placed 3rd-8th.


And with that the transfer speculation has risen again, with Football League World reporting that: “[Derby] County are one of the clubs on British shores to be eyeing up a move for Portland Timbers star Finn Surman, who starred for New Zealand at the FIFA World Cup this summer”.

Not a coincidence that Callum McCowatt to Minnesota and Finn Surman from Portland rumours are sprouting as the MLS takes a pause for Leagues Cup activities. This is the time to make those moves. It was rumoured during the World Cup that several clubs in England and wider Europe were interested in Surman’s services but Derby County are the first of them to be named.

Remains to be seen if it leads to anything but we all know that the Surmanator is ready for the next step... and his Welsh heritage makes the UK a natural destination (that and the fact that half the next All Whites squad is going to be based in the English Championship at this rate). 

Surman starts alongside Aussie CB Bonetig in the Leagues Cup, as Portland host Mexico's Puebla.

Timbers up 4-1 at HT.
Edit - finished a 5-2 win 

Portland host Club America in the Leagues Cup
https://us.soccerway.com/game/club-america-vyrswtJm/portland-timbers-bm8usLzB/?mid=GYKUv1m2

Surmanator starts.

1-1 at HT.

Surman full game in a 3-1 loss.
Club America with about 5-6 Mexico, Uruguay and US national team players.

Friday

Leagues Cup. Portland host Club Tijuana.
https://us.soccerway.com/game/club-tijuana-nuNVeQkr/portland-timbers-bm8usLzB/?mid=jk4pJpsm

Surman starts

3-1 win

https://x.com/TimbersFC/status/2088120015249879319

https://x.com/TimbersFC/status/2088120015249879319

Timbers down 2-0 early at Chicago. Sounds like Surman isn't having his best game.

First MLS goal for Surman as Portland pull it back to 2-1 late on.