Former Akron Zip Darlington Nagbe collects 200th start for MLS’ Portland Timbers FC

As soon as he took the pitch at Portland’s Providence Park on Sunday night to face the Seattle Sounders, Darlington Nagbe made Portland Timbers club history.

Nagbe, a former Akron Zip, became the first player in Timbers history to reach 200 starts on Sunday night, playing the full 90 minutes in a 2-2 draw against rival Seattle Sounders FC in a nationally-televised MLS tilt.

Nagbe has been rumored to move to international clubs such as the Scottish Premier League’s Celtic FC, but has remained with the Timbers since his rookie season in 2011.

In his time at Portland, Nagbe has accumulated 16,276 minutes of playing time (prior to Sunday’s game), 26 goals, 28 assists and 189 starts. Nagbe has a reputation for being an excellent and clean player, collecting only four yellow cards in six years, with two of those in the 2017 season. Nagbe has also helped his team win the 2015 MLS Cup, starting all six games and collecting two assists.

Nagbe has also donned the Red, White and Blue for the U.S. Men’s National Squad, having achieved national eligibility in 2015.

Nagbe, who moved to Lakewood, Ohio from Nigeria, has earned 17 international caps in various FIFA-sanctioned tournaments, such as the CONCACAF Gold Cup and World Cup Qualifiers. He has collected 730 minutes in his appearances for the USMNT, scoring one goal and creating countless chances for teammates such as CLint Dempsey, Michael Bradley and Christian Pulisic.

The Timbers’ next game is against Sporting Kansas City on July 1 at 7 p.m. EST.