TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Signing
The Vancouver Whitecaps announced the signing of 16-year old attacking midfielder and Canadian youth international Simon Colyn, a product of the club’s youth residency program, to an MLS Homegrown Player contract on Thursday.
The Whitecaps’ third Homegrown signing since the end of last season and 16th in their MLS history, following David Norman Jr. and Sean Melvin, Colyn has agreed to a multi-year contact with options through 2022. He’s the 15th-youngest player in league history to sign an MLS contract, and the sixth 2002-born prospect to do so.
“It’s great to have another local boy come through the system,” said Vancouver head coach Carl Robinson in a club release. “Simon has done very well with the Residency program and showed no fear when he came into the first-team group in preseason. His work ethic and temperament are spot on and I see something in him that I don’t see in many young players. Simon has earned this opportunity, but this is the first step on the ladder. The hard work starts now.”
Colyn played for Langley United YSA and Surrey United SC before joining Whitecaps FC Residency in 2016. He’s scored 13 goals in 21 appearances for the WFC Residency U-17 and U-19 teams this year in US Soccer Development Academy play, and also took part in preseason training camp activities with Vancouver’s first team earlier this year.
“I want to thank all the Whitecaps staff, my coaches at Surrey United and Langley United, and of course my family for helping me get to this point,” Colyn said. “This means a lot to me. I grew up watching the Whitecaps and now I’ve made my steps up the ladder with Residency. I know this is only the beginning and I’m very excited to get going and prove myself to the coaches.”
