Timbers welcome Scottish striker Kris Boyd

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- Striker Kris Boyd, the Scottish Premier League's all-time leading scorer, has joined Major League Soccer's Portland Timbers.

Boyd was signed by the Timbers in late January, but his arrival in Portland was delayed while he secured a visa.

The 28-year-old Boyd scored 164 goals in a total of 296 appearances in the SPL with Kilmarnock and Rangers. He was that league's top scorer for four seasons.

"I'm ready to get on the field, start scoring goals and have a successful season," he said at a Tuesday news conference.

He joins countryman John Spencer, the Timbers' head coach, in Portland.

Timbers owner Merritt Paulson said the team was shopping in the offseason for a "target-striker, a pure goal scorer."

"When we heard Kris Boyd was available, everything dropped," Paulson said. "Complete focus on Kris."

Boyd terminated his contract with Turkish club Eskisehirspor in December after a turbulent six-month stint with the team. He was also courted by the Houston Dynamo, who owned the rights to negotiate with Boyd. To sign him, the Timbers gave the Dynamo their first-round pick in the 2013 draft.

Terms of Boyd's deal with the Timbers were not announced.

Boyd said he's aiming to be in shape for the team's opener against the Philadelphia Union on March 12. He has not played a competitive match since last summer.

"I'll get my head down and work hard and hopefully I'll be ready for the season," he said.

Boyd will wear No. 9 for Portland.

Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.