Revolution add Tony Taylor via Lottery

The New England Revolution announced on Monday the addition of former U.S. U-20 and U-23 international forward Tony Taylor via an MLS lottery. The Revolution were one of just two teams – Portland Timbers being the other – to enter the draft and had a 71.4% chance of winning the draw.

Taylor, 25, will be added the Revolution’s roster following the receipt of his International Transfer Certificate.

“Tony is a younger player who will come in and add to the competition already on our team,” Revolution general manager Michael Burns said in a club release. “He has some speed and is versatile in that he can play up top or out wide on the right. We’ll look forward to get him in as soon as possible and integrated into the team.”

Taylor played two years of collegiate soccer – one with the University of South Florida and one with Jacksonville University – before heading to Europe to start his professional career, signing with the controversial Traffic Sports Marketing agency that buys soccer players’ rights and loans them to clubs. The 6-foot tall winger/forward started his professional career at second division Portuguese club Estoril Praia, a team owned by Traffic, making his debut in April 2010 and scoring twice in five appearances his first season.

In the 2010-11 season, Taylor scored four goals in 20 games. He was loaned to second division club Atletico Clube Portugal for the first half of the 2011-12 season and scored three goals in 10 matches, then added two goals in seven games for Estoril in the second half as the club earned promotion. In 2012-13, Taylor scored once in 13 games with Estoril in Portugal’s top division.

Last season, Taylor joined Cypriot First Division side Omonia Nikosia where he scored three goals in 20 games through all competitions.

The Jacksonville, Fla. native started all three games for the U.S. in the 2009 U-20 World Cup and scored in a 4-1 win over Cameroon. He had two goals and four assists in 11 starts overall for the U.S. U-20s. Taylor also was part of the U.S. U-23 squad for the 2012 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Both of Taylor’s parents are Panamanian and he has received interest from Panama’s national team program in the past.

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