Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced on Monday the signing of attacker Yordy Reyna from Austrian Bundesliga champions Red Bull Salzburg.
Reyna, 23, was acquired with the use of Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) and has agreed to an MLS contract through 2018, with club options for 2019 and 2020. He will occupy an international roster spot and officially join the club's roster pending receipt of his international transfer certificate, Canadian work permit and visa.
Nicknamed “Magic,” the Peruvian international can play attacking midfielder or forward, and has scored 14 goals in 41 appearances over three-plus seasons in the Austrian Bundesliga with Red Bull Salzburg and SV Grödig. Reyna joined Salzburg from Peruvian side Alianza Lima in 2013 and helped the Austrian outpost of Red Bull's global empire win the 2013-2014 and 2015-16 Austrian Bundesliga and Austrian Cup titles. He has two goals in 17 caps (five starts) for Peru.
"Reyna is an exciting, hard-working young talent, and we are thrilled to add him to our club," said Whitecaps head coach Carl Robinson in a club release. "He's very direct with the ball, he can make the final pass, and he can score goals. He has all the attributes we want."
Reyna will join his new team in Wales this week upon receipt of his UK visa, as Vancouver kick off their preseason schedule with friendlies against several English clubs, including Championship sides Bristol City FC and Cardiff City FC and League One outfit Oxford United FC.
The Whitecaps' 2017 season kicks off with a CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal series against the New York Red Bulls, with the first leg set for Wednesday, February 22 at Red Bull Arena and the return leg on Thursday, March 2 at BC Place.
