Whitecaps sign 15-year-old Canadian midfielder Davies to multi-year deal

VANCOUVER – The Vancouver Whitecaps signed 15-year-old midfielder Alphonso Davies to a multi-year contract on Friday, making him the youngest active player in Major League Soccer.

The contract is guaranteed through 2018 with options for 2019 and 2020.

Davies, who was born in Liberia and raised in Edmonton, is the first Whitecaps FC 2 player to sign with the first team. He will be eligible on Saturday against Orlando City SC.

“This is a dream come true,” said Davies. “I’ve grown so much since joining the Residency program last year, and have continued to learn from the first-team players and coaching staff. Coming to Vancouver was the best decision of my life. I’m so thankful to the club for having faith in me and I can’t wait to get started in MLS.”

Davies has represented Canada at the under-15, under-18, and under-20 levels and made four appearances, including two starts, in the 2016 Amway Canadian Championship.

The five-foot-10, 155-pound midfielder participated in the 2016 pre-season training camp with the first team, appearing in all three matches at the 2016 Desert Friendlies and tallying a game-winning assist against Houston Dynamo on Feb. 9.

“Alphonso is a bright young player who has earned this opportunity,” said Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson. “He still has a lot of hard work ahead of him, but at this point in time we felt this was the best move for his development and for the club. This is another great example of our player pathway and we hope he will be the first of many WFC2 players to make the next step.”

In the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, Davies scored six goals in 12 appearances for Whitecaps FC Residency U-16 during the 2015-16 season. He also featured for the club’s U-18 side, scoring three goals in four matches.