VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC confirmed on Tuesday the club’s MLS roster make-up to start the 2017 season.
Vancouver are currently using 28 of 31 roster spots, which includes one spot used for a season-long USL loan. The MLS roster size increased this year as the league recently announced two roster spots added for Homegrown players.
All three Designated Player spots on the Whitecaps FC roster are occupied by striker Fredy Montero, midfielder Matías Laba, and midfielder/forward Brek Shea.
“Brek is at a similar salary level as our TAM players,” said Whitecaps FC vice president of soccer operations Greg Anderson. “In order to make us roster compliant, it worked best among the different MLS player mechanisms to list Brek as a Designated Player.”
Per MLS roster rules, throughout the year, clubs have the ability to convert players making less than a $1,000,000 per year but more than the Maximum Budget Charge of $480,625 to non-DP status using Targeted Allocation Money (TAM). Since TAM was introduced in 2015 as part of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement with the MLS Players Union, Whitecaps FC have used it to acquire midfielders Christian Bolaños and Cristian Techera, as well as midfielder/forward Yordy Reyna. Additional roster rules are available at: www.mlssoccer.com/league/official-rules/mls-roster-rules-and-regulations.
Whitecaps FC also confirmed that goalkeeper Spencer Richey has been loaned to Whitecaps FC 2 in the United Soccer League. As per MLS rules on the Loan of a Player by MLS to USL affiliate, he may be recalled to the MLS roster in the case of Extreme Hardship.
Three Whitecaps FC players are not currently occupying MLS roster spots. Midfielder Deybi Flores is on loan to Whitecaps FC 2. Left back Sam Adekugbe is also on loan at English Championship club Brighton and Hove Albion through June, while centre back David Edgar has been placed on the Season-Ending Injury List.
Vancouver currently have eight international roster spots through 2017, seven of which are being used.
For more information on the 2017 roster make-up, visit mlssoccer.com/rosters/2017/vancouver-whitecaps.
Whitecaps FC continue their 2017 MLS season on Saturday at San Jose Earthquakes (7 p.m. PT on TSN1/3) before facing Tigres UANL in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League semifinals on Tuesday, March 14 in Monterrey, Mexico.
