Alphonso Davies

PROFILE
Among the youngest active players in MLS, Alphonso Davies joined Whitecaps FC Residency in 2015, prior to being added to their USL side in February 2016, then their MLS roster in July 2016 as a 15-year-old. He became become the youngest player to score a goal in the CONCACAF Champions League, Canadian Championship, and United Soccer League. He was named as the club's Most Promising Player for 2016. He earned his first call-up to the Canadian senior national team in June 2017, shortly after receiving his Canadian citizenship. In the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup, Davies took home the Best Young Player, Golden Boot, and Best XI honours after becoming the youngest goalscorer in the history of both the Canadian men's national team and the tournament.   

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
2017: Davies started nine of his 29 regular season appearances, recording his first MLS assist against Seattle Sounders FC on August 23, and leading the team with 36 dribbles completed. He also made one MLS Cup Playoffs appearance, making his postseason debut on his 17th birthday as a substitute in the decisive leg of the Western Conference Semifinal series in Seattle. 2016: Davies signed a multi-year contract as a Homegrown Player on July 15, becoming the youngest current player in MLS and the third youngest all-time player to sign an MLS contract. On the following day, Davies made his MLS debut against Orlando City SC. He then made his first MLS start versus Colorado Rapids on September 24, the second youngest in league history to accomplish the feat. He finished his first MLS season with two starts in eight appearances, and was named the club's Most Promising Player at the end of the year.

CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
2016-17: Davies tallied two goals and one assist in the CCL, making four starts in seven tournament appearances to help Whitecaps FC to their first-ever semifinal finish.

UNITED SOCCER LEAGUE
2016: Davies made his professional debut on April 2, and finished the regular season with two goals in nine starts and 11 appearances, most of which coming early in the season prior to his transition to the first team. Davies made USL history in the 4-3 Week 8 win over then top-ranked LA Galaxy II, becoming the youngest player to score a goal in league history at 15 years old, earning him a USL Team of the Week selection. Davies was ranked eighth among the USL 20 Under 20, and was a finalist for the USL Rookie of the Year. 

CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIP
2017: Davies tallied two goals and one assist in the Canadian Championship semifinal series versus Montreal Impact, making one start in two appearances. 2016: Davies made his first team debut during the first leg of the CC semifinal round against Ottawa Fury FC, coming on as a substitute in the 72nd minute. In the second leg, Davies became the youngest ever player to start for the first team at just 15 years old. In total, he made two starts in four tournament appearances for the 'Caps.

UNITED STATES SOCCER DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY
2015-16: Davies scored six goals in 12 appearances for WFC Residency U-16, while adding three goals in four matches for WFC Residency U-18.

INTERNATIONAL
Senior: After receiving his Canadian citizenship in June 2017, Davies was immediately called up to the Canadian senior national team for a camp in Montreal, and earned his first senior cap in their 2-1 friendly win over Curaçao. In the following month, he took home the Best Young Player, Golden Boot, and Best XI honours after becoming the youngest goalscorer in the history of both the Canadian men's national team and the tournament. Youth: Davies first represented his adopted home country at age 13 in a Canada Soccer U-15 identification camp in October 2014. In 2016, the midfielder started for Canada's U-20 side in their 2-1 win over England in March and scored one goal and assisted on another while captaining Canada's U-17 team in their 3-0 friendly win over Jamaica in November. For his efforts, Davies was recognized as the Canadian U-17 Player of the Year. 

YOUTH/AMATEUR
Davies played at Edmonton Internationals before moving to Edmonton Strikers, where he was coached under the guidance of Nick Huoseh. 

PERSONAL
Davies was born in Buduburam, a refugee camp in Gomoa East District in the central region of Ghana, to Liberian parents who took refuge in Ghana after fleeing the Liberian civil war. When Davies was five years old, his family moved to Windsor, Ontario in 2006 before settling in Edmonton, Alberta one year later.

INTERESTING FACTS
At 15 years, three months, and one week, Davies became the youngest player in the USL when he signed with Whitecaps FC 2 on February 2016. He was with the club’s first team at the 2016 preseason training camp in Tucson, Arizona and Portland, Oregon. In that time, Davies appeared in all three matches at the 2016 Desert Friendlies, recording a game-winning assist versus Houston Dynamo.