The Vancouver Whitecaps are going for youth with their latest signing.
The club announced on Friday they have signed 15-year-old midfielder Alphonso Davies to a multi-year MLS Homegrown Player contract.
Davies is now the youngest active player in MLS, and the third-youngest in history to sign an MLS deal. Davies will be available for selection in the Whitecaps' game on Saturday against Orlando City (10 pm ET, TSN1/4/RDS2 in Canada, MLS LIVE in US).
"Alphonso is a bright young player who has earned this opportunity," said Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson in a team statement. "He still has a lot of hard work ahead of him, but at this point in time we felt this was the best move for his development and for the club. This is another great example of our player pathway and we hope he will be the first of many WFC2 players to make the next step."
The Edmonton native has quickly moved through the ranks of the club, having joined the Whitecaps academy residency program in Aug. 2015, before signing a deal with the club's USL team, Whitecaps FC 2, ahead of the current season, and now holds the record as the youngest player to ever score in that league. He also appeared four times for the Whitecaps' first team in this year's Amway Canadian Championship.
"This is a dream come true," said Davies. "I've grown so much since joining the Residency program last year, and have continued to learn from the first-team players and coaching staff. Coming to Vancouver was the best decision of my life. I'm so thankful to the club for having faith in me and I can't wait to get started in MLS."
Davies has been part of several Canadian national youth team training camps, and his MLS contract is guaranteed through 2018, with options for 2019 and 2020.
