Vancouver Whitecaps acquire defender Sheanon Williams from Houston Dynamo

VANCOUVER – The Vancouver Whitecaps have acquired right back Sheanon Williams from the Houston Dynamo for general allocation money, the club announced Tuesday.

The deal for the 26-year-old hinges on the receipt of his international transfer certificate and Canadian work permit.

Williams will likely be looked upon to fill a hole on the right side of a leaky Vancouver defence that gave up 52 goals in 2016 compared to just 36 the previous year.

The Whitecaps traded Steven Beitashour to Toronto FC prior to last season, hoping that newcomers Jordan Smith or Fraser Aird would step up as replacements.

But both failed to impress, and neither will be back in 2017.

Williams — a Boston native whose first name is pronounced “Shane-en” — has started 172 of 179 appearances with Houston and the Philadelphia Union since joining Major League Soccer in 2010, scoring seven goals to go along with 22 assists.

Those 22 assists are the fourth most by a defender during that period.

“Sheanon is an athletic, solid defender with an attacking mind,” Whitecaps head coach Carl Robinson said in a statement. “Sheanon has been a regular starter and has a great reputation throughout the league as someone with outstanding character.”