University of Toronto Varsity Blues men's soccer defender Anthony White has signed a two-year contract with Vancouver FC of the Canadian Premiere League (CPL).

White, 19, joins Vancouver through the 2024 season on a standard player contract (SPC), with a club option to extend his stay through 2026. In signing an SPC rather than a CPL-U SPORTS contract, White has forfeited his U SPORTS eligibility. 

The native of Port Moody, B.C., who grew up representing Coquitlam Metro Ford Soccer Club, returns to the west coast after making 11 starts for the University of Toronto in 2022, which was tied for the team lead in his sophomore season with the Varsity Blues. Outside of the U SPORTS structure, he most recently helped TSS Rovers win the 2022 League1 BC championship last summer. 

White is the youngest first-overall pick in the history of the CPL-U SPORTS Draft.

"I am proud of all of the hard work it took to get to this moment and grateful to Vancouver for making this investment in me," said White. "As a young player, it is a luxury to know where I will be playing for the foreseeable future, and I look forward to living up to the faith Afshin and everyone at VFC has placed in me." 

The left-footed central defender, who stands at six foot one, has previously trained in top professional environments, such as with Croatia's Dinamo Zagreb and NK Sibenik, as well as FC Nurnberg in Germany. He has also trialled with the Vancouver Whitecaps. In 2019, White was one of 16 Generation Adidas players selected to train in Spain with Real Madrid and at the training centre of the Spanish national team.

White is composed and calm addition to Vancouver's defence. He can play out of the back with precision, be it through a short- or long-range pass, and his ability to make, and execute, good decisions in any situation ensured he stood out as a U SPORTS player.

"Anthony has impressed since his first kick at the first training," said Afshin Ghotbi, Head Coach, Vancouver FC. "Mature beyond his age, Anthony possesses all the qualities, potential and ambition to become a top footballer.  We look forward to his development and performances in the upcoming season and beyond." 

Source: CPL