The Vancouver Whitecaps have some help at right back on the way.
The club announced Friday the acquisition on a season-long loan with a transfer option of Canadian international Fraser Aird from Scottish Championship side Rangers FC, pending receipt of his international transfer certificate and medical.
Aird will arrive in Vancouver on Saturday and travel with the team to its preseason camp in Tucson, Ariz., on Sunday. Aird will be vying to fill the hole left at right back with the departure of Steven Beitashour to Toronto FC; also fighting for time at the position will be Jordan Smith, who made seven appearances in 2015 after he was acquired in August.
"We're delighted to bring Fraser into our club," Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson said in a team release. "He is a bright young Canadian talent with great energy in his play and great character. He is still learning the game and hopefully we can help his talent progress. Fraser can play a variety of positions, but we'll be looking for him to compete in the right back area."
Aird, 20, joins Whitecaps FC after spending his entire career with Rangers.
"I'm delighted to have joined Vancouver Whitecaps FC on a season-long loan," Aird said in the release. "Hopefully I can come in and help the team and improve as a player under Carl Robinson. I'm looking forward to meeting up with the group and getting started right away."
Born in Scarborough, Ontario to Scottish parents, Aird grew up in Canada before signing with the Rangers youth set-up at the age of 16.
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Within a year of joining the club, Aird made his first-team debut in September 2012 after spending time with the U-17 and U-19 sides. The following season, Aird was named the club's Young Player of the Year after recording seven goals and 10 assists in 37 appearances. In total, Aird tallied 17 goals and 12 assists in 85 appearances with the first team.
Internationally, Aird represented Canada at the U-15 level and Scotland and the U-17 and U-19 levels before committing to the Canadian senior men's national team. This past year, Aird made his senior international debut for Canada in a 1-1 friendly with Ghana. He was also called up to the Canadian squad for their recent World Cup qualifiers against Honduras and El Salvador.
He was a nominee for the 2015 Canadian U-20 Player of the Year award.
