Latest news with #Vite
Vancouver Sun
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
Report: Whitecaps' sale of Pedro Vite to Mexican club is biggest deal for team since Alphonso Davies
The Vancouver Whitecaps confirmed the transfer of midfielder Pedro Vite to the Mexican club Pumas UNAM on Friday and Manuel Veth of Transfermarkt is reporting that it's the second biggest transfer fee in Whitecaps history, behind only the Alphonso Davies deal. According to Veth , the Whitecaps receive $4.5 million US (€3.8m) plus $1.5 million US (€1.3m) in bonuses, and they retain a 20 per cent sell-on clause. The Whitecaps haven't offered up much on details, other than confirming that they'll receive a percentage of any future transfer fees. Friday's announcement comes one week shy of the seven-year anniversary of their $22 million US (€14 m) transfer agreement between the Whitecaps and FC Bayern Munich for Davies. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. According to Transfermarkt, the Whitecaps transfer of midfielder Inbeom Hwang to Russian club FC Rubin Kazan in August 2020 had been the runner-up to the Davies' deal in Whitecaps history before Vite. Transfermarkt lists that deal at $2.9 million US (€2.5 m). Vite, 23, has been a major reason why the Whitecaps have been near the top of the MLS standings all season long. Vancouver (12-5-5) has a first-place showdown with host San Diego (13-7-3) Saturday (7:30 p.m.). San Diego is one point up on Vancouver for top spot, but the Whitecaps have a game in hand. The regular season wraps up in October. Vite is tied for second on the Whitecaps in goals (4), trailing only forward Brian White (11). He's first in assists (6). He's fourth in minutes played (1,393). Vite has been a starter of late with Ecuador's national side. He's been with the Whitecaps since August 2021. His current contract with Vancouver was set to run out at the end of this season. Whitecaps sporting director Axel Schuster said Monday that Vite and the team were closing in on an extension, but Schuster had promised that he wouldn't stand in the way if a transfer offer came in from a team that Vite was interested in. Sure enough, two clubs stepped up as Whitecaps and Vite were finalizing their own extension. The Pumas deal was the one that they managed to push over the finish line. 'It's a bit unfortunate but it's also what the business is,' Schuster said then. Schuster also promised if the transfer went through that the Whitecaps will 'use every single dollar to invest back into the team to make the team stronger in a different way.' 'We will be able to do good things with it, to improve the team as a total,' Schuster said. In a Whitecaps statement on Friday, Schuster said: ' Pedro arrived in Vancouver at 19, living outside of Ecuador for the first time. Year after year, he continued to progress, and this season he's emerged as one of the top midfielders in MLS and a key contributor to his national team. 'We explored several options with Pedro and, ultimately, we respect his decision. We're grateful for everything he brought to the club and wish him all the best in the next chapter of his career. The incoming transfer fee will be reinvested to strengthen our roster, for both immediate impact and long-term success.' @SteveEwen SEwen@
Hamilton Spectator
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Vancouver Whitecaps sell dynamic midfielder Pedro Vite to LIGA MX side Pumas UNAM
The Vancouver Whitecaps will be without one of their top scorers this weekend as they seek to retake the No. 1 spot in Major League Soccer's Western Conference. The club announced Friday that 23-year-old midfielder Pedro Vite has been transferred to LIGA MX side Pumas UNAM. Terms of the deal were not released, but Whitecaps sporting director Axel Schuster said in a statement that the club will invest the transfer fee to 'strengthen our roster, for both immediate impact and long-term success' and Vancouver will receive a percentage of any future transfer fees. 'Pedro arrived in Vancouver at 19, living outside of Ecuador for the first time. Year after year, he continued to progress, and this season he's emerged as one of the top midfielders in MLS and a key contributor to his national team,' Schuster said. 'We explored several options with Pedro and, ultimately, we respect his decision. We're grateful for everything he brought to the club and wish him all the best in the next chapter of his career.' Vite joined the Whitecaps in October 2021 from Ecuadorian first division side Independiente Del Valle. During his time in Vancouver, he tallied 15 goals and 20 assists in 140 appearances, including five goals and a team-leading six assists across all competitions this year. Last month, he helped Ecuador's national squad qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Vite has been an important part of the Whitecaps this season, midfielder Sebastian Berhalter said Friday. 'He's honestly been amazing,' he said. 'One of the first moments I played with him, I realized, 'Wow, this kid is special.' He wasn't getting the game time, but you could see just his touch and technique on the ball was something I hadn't really played with before.' The move means the 'Caps (12-5-5) will have a hole in their lineup Saturday when they take on San Diego FC (13-7-3) in California. '(Vite's) a guy who can make very difficult things look very easy and I think that he has had a great season so far,' said Jesper Sorensen, Vancouver's head coach. 'Of course we will miss him. We will always miss a good player and a good guy as well. But on the other hand, this is the name of the game and this is how football works. And we will be ready to fill out the spot that he leaves.' Saturday's match will be a battle for best of the West, with expansion side San Diego currently sitting one point ahead of Vancouver and in the No. 1 spot in the MLS Western Conference standings. The stakes were similar back on June 25 when San Diego came to Vancouver for the first-ever matchup between the two sides. The new franchise waltzed away with a 5-3 victory. Milan Iloski scored four goals for the visitors that night, but won't be in the lineup on Saturday. The midfielder left San Diego earlier this week to rejoin Danish Superliga side FC Nordjaelland. Sorensen, for one, isn't disappointed to see Iloski go. 'He was pretty hard on us last time. I'm happy he's not there today,' the coach said with a laugh. 'No matter who (San Diego) play, they all play the same way. Of course it's not the same player they have but they have good players around and they'll also find a replacement that will make things difficult for us.' VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (12-5-5) AT SAN DIEGO FC (13-7-3) Saturday, Snapdragon Stadium POTENT OFENCE: San Diego continues to be an offensive juggernaut, leading the league in both goals (46) and assists (55). The team is also second in passes completed (13,731). QUEST FOR 100: Striker Brian White scored his 99th career goal on Wednesday. He leads the 'Caps in scoring this season with 16 goals across all competitions. KEEP IT CLEAN: Vancouver 'keeper Yohei Takaoka leads the league with 10 clean sheets after backstopping the Whitecaps to a 3-0 victory over the Dynamo. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 18, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Vancouver Whitecaps sell dynamic midfielder Pedro Vite to LIGA MX side Pumas UNAM
The Vancouver Whitecaps will be without one of their top scorers this weekend as they seek to retake the No. 1 spot in Major League Soccer's Western Conference. The club announced Friday that 23-year-old midfielder Pedro Vite has been transferred to LIGA MX side Pumas UNAM. Terms of the deal were not released, but Whitecaps sporting director Axel Schuster said in a statement that the club will invest the transfer fee to 'strengthen our roster, for both immediate impact and long-term success' and Vancouver will receive a percentage of any future transfer fees. 'Pedro arrived in Vancouver at 19, living outside of Ecuador for the first time. Year after year, he continued to progress, and this season he's emerged as one of the top midfielders in MLS and a key contributor to his national team,' Schuster said. 'We explored several options with Pedro and, ultimately, we respect his decision. We're grateful for everything he brought to the club and wish him all the best in the next chapter of his career.' Vite joined the Whitecaps in October 2021 from Ecuadorian first division side Independiente Del Valle. During his time in Vancouver, he tallied 15 goals and 20 assists in 140 appearances, including five goals and a team-leading six assists across all competitions this year. Last month, he helped Ecuador's national squad qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Vite has been an important part of the Whitecaps this season, midfielder Sebastian Berhalter said Friday. 'He's honestly been amazing,' he said. 'One of the first moments I played with him, I realized, 'Wow, this kid is special.' He wasn't getting the game time, but you could see just his touch and technique on the ball was something I hadn't really played with before.' The move means the 'Caps (12-5-5) will have a hole in their lineup Saturday when they take on San Diego FC (13-7-3) in California. '(Vite's) a guy who can make very difficult things look very easy and I think that he has had a great season so far,' said Jesper Sorensen, Vancouver's head coach. 'Of course we will miss him. We will always miss a good player and a good guy as well. But on the other hand, this is the name of the game and this is how football works. And we will be ready to fill out the spot that he leaves.' Saturday's match will be a battle for best of the West, with expansion side San Diego currently sitting one point ahead of Vancouver and in the No. 1 spot in the MLS Western Conference standings. The stakes were similar back on June 25 when San Diego came to Vancouver for the first-ever matchup between the two sides. The new franchise waltzed away with a 5-3 victory. Milan Iloski scored four goals for the visitors that night, but won't be in the lineup on Saturday. The midfielder left San Diego earlier this week to rejoin Danish Superliga side FC Nordjaelland. Sorensen, for one, isn't disappointed to see Iloski go. 'He was pretty hard on us last time. I'm happy he's not there today,' the coach said with a laugh. 'No matter who (San Diego) play, they all play the same way. Of course it's not the same player they have but they have good players around and they'll also find a replacement that will make things difficult for us.' VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (12-5-5) AT SAN DIEGO FC (13-7-3) Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Saturday, Snapdragon Stadium POTENT OFENCE: San Diego continues to be an offensive juggernaut, leading the league in both goals (46) and assists (55). The team is also second in passes completed (13,731). QUEST FOR 100: Striker Brian White scored his 99th career goal on Wednesday. He leads the 'Caps in scoring this season with 16 goals across all competitions. KEEP IT CLEAN: Vancouver 'keeper Yohei Takaoka leads the league with 10 clean sheets after backstopping the Whitecaps to a 3-0 victory over the Dynamo. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 18, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Vancouver Whitecaps head to Houston looking to regain their winning form
VANCOUVER – The Vancouver Whitecaps are looking to put their Major League Soccer season back on the rails. After enjoying one of the best starts in team history the Whitecaps have lost two MLS matches in a row and four of their last five. The Whitecaps (11-5-5) hope to get back on track Wednesday when they face the Houston Dynamo (7-10-5) in Texas. The 'Caps will then play their fourth game in 11 days when they battle San Diego FC Saturday at Snapdragon Stadium. The game in San Diego will be Vancouver's third consecutive road game after dropping a 3-0 decision to the Colorado Rapids on Saturday night. 'We know that we haven't really been as strong as when we started the season,' forward Daniel Rios said after training this week. 'It's part of every team. We don't panic. 'The way we approach these two (games) is try to get the most possible points. We'll do our best.' Back on May 24 the Whitecaps used a 3-2 road victory over Real Salt Lake to extend their unbeaten streak to 14 games across all competitions and nine matches in MLS play. At the time, Vancouver led the league with a 9-1-4 record for 31 points. Vancouver is 3-4-3 in the 10 MLS games since. The Whitecaps sit third in the Western Conference with 38 points, four back of conference leading San Diego, and have slid to eighth overall in the league standings. In their last four losses the Whitecaps have been outscored 13-4 and have given up three or more goals three times, including a 5-3 defeat by San Diego at BC Place Stadium on June 25. 'Colorado wasn't our best,' defender Tate Johnson said. 'We've got time to fix it. 'We know things have got to be better. We're looking forward to putting together two good games next week.' On a positive note, Vancouver used a goal in the 90th minute July 9 to beat Canadian Premier League side Valour FC 2-1 to win their Telus Canadian Champions quarterfinal. The Dynamo are 2-4 in their last six games and sit 10th in the Western Conference with 26 points. 'We know they're a great team,' said Johnson. 'We know they have a lot of threats, they're very well organized. 'We're going to have to make sure we're able to step up and put together a good performance.' Head coach Jesper Sorensen said his team doesn't need an overhaul, just some tinkering. 'We have to perform at a better level than we've done,' said Sorensen. 'It not just regarding structure and discipline. We have to be tougher and get into the game and start them better.' A question facing the Whitecaps is the status of Ecuadorean midfielder Pedro Vite. The team and Vite had agreed on a contract extension through the 2029 season. But Axel Schuster, Vancouver's chief executive officer and sporting director, said the deal included an agreement the team would take into consideration any offers for Vite from other clubs. It has been reported Mexican side Pumas UNAM have approached the Whitecaps about Vite, who is second on the team with four goals and leads with six assists. 'We have received an offer that we are at least considering,' said Schuster. 'We're focusing on the job that is ahead of us. We have a few days where we will go over this. 'It's a little bit unfortunate but it's also what the business is.' Pumas was one of the teams the Whitecaps beat on their journey to the CONCACAF Champions Cup final, which they lost to Cruz Azul 5-0. — VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (11-5-5) at HOUSTON DYNAMO (7-10-5) Shell Energy Stadium, Wednesday, 8:30 p.m. ET MAKE IT A DATE: The game will be the Whitecaps' fifth midweek visit to Houston since 2021. COMFORT ZONE: The Whitecaps are 3-0-2 in their last five games in Texas. LAST GAME: The Whitecaps and Dynamo battled to a 1-1 draw in a Sept. 18, 2024, match in Houston. KEEPING IT CLEAN: Goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka, an MLS all-star, leads the league with nine clean sheets. BACK IN THE LINEUP: Forward Jayden Nelson is back after serving a suspension for receiving a second yellow card in stoppage time for kicking the ball into the stands in frustration during Vancouver's 3-0 loss to the L.A. Galaxy on July 4. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 15, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
27-06-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Vancouver Whitecaps ink midfielder Pedro Vite to extension through 2029
VANCOUVER – The Vancouver Whitecaps have signed midfielder Pedro Vite to a long-term extension. The club announced the deal Friday, saying the deal stretches through the 2029 campaign. Vite has 15 goals and 20 assists in 136 appearances with the 'Caps, including five goals and a team-leading six assists across all competitions this year. The 23-year-old has also made eight appearances for Ecuador's men's national team and helped the squad qualify for the 2026 World Cup earlier this month. Vite first joined the Whitecaps in October 2021 from Ecuadorian first division side Independiente Del Valle. Vancouver sporting director Axel Schuster says in a release that Vite has since shown 'exceptional dedication to his development and that hard work has transformed him into one of the best young playmakers in Major League Soccer.' Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. 'Recently, he's also emerged as a key figure for Ecuador's national team, playing an important role in their qualification for next year's World Cup,' Schuster said. 'Pedro's success is a credit to his talent and determination, and we're excited to continue supporting him as he strives to reach his full potential.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 27, 2025.
