VANCOUVER, BC –Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced on Friday that the club has loaned Homegrown centre back Gianfranco Facchineri to USL Championship side San Diego Loyal SC through the end of the 2021 season. The transaction was completed on Thursday, prior to the close of the international transfer window in Canada and the United States.
“Frankie is only in his second professional season, as a teenager, coming out of our academy system,” said Axel Schuster, Whitecaps FC sporting director and chief executive officer. “This is a great opportunity for him to continue his development and earn competitive minutes.”
Facchineri, 19, joined the Whitecaps FC BMO MLS Academy in 2018 and signed an MLS Homegrown contract in January of last year. The youngster also spent time on loan last season with Canadian Premier League side Atlético Ottawa from July through September, making three starts in five appearances.
Managed and co-founded by Landon Donovan, the Loyal began competition in the USL Championship as an expansion side in 2020. They currently sit third in the Pacific Division with a 7W-6L-3D record. Their regular season schedule runs through October.
Facchineri becomes the sixth Whitecaps FC player on loan, joining Jasser Khmiri (San Antonio FC) and David Egbo (Phoenix Rising FC) in the USL Championship, with Damiano Pecile (Venezia FC), Derek Cornelius (Panetolikos FC), and Theo Bair (Hamarkameratene) at European sides.
TRANSACTION: On August 6, 2021 Whitecaps FC loan Gianfranco Facchineri to San Diego Loyal SC through the end of the 2021 USL Championship season.
