VANCOUVER, BC - Vancouver Whitecaps FC right back Jake Nerwinski has agreed to a new contract through 2022 with an option for 2023, the club announced on Tuesday.
"Year-over-year, Jake puts the work in behind the scenes and sets a good example for our younger players," said Marc Dos Santos, Whitecaps FC head coach. "In addition to his professionalism on the field, he also leads off the field by sharing his time with important community initiatives. We are happy to finalize Jake’s new contract and pleased he will continue to be a member of our club.”
Whitecaps FC right back Jake Nerwinski
- Second-longest tenured VWFC player with 98 starts and 105 appearances across all competitions
- All-time leader among VWFC MLS right backs in blocks, recoveries, tackles won, and duels won, second all-time among VWFC MLS right backs in assists and interceptions
- 2020 Jock MacDonald Unsung Hero awardee for contributions on and off the pitch
“I am very happy to have signed a new contract here in Vancouver,” added Nerwinski. “I look forward to continuing my career in the city I have called my home for the past four years and grateful that this club has given me the opportunity to fulfill my lifelong dream of becoming a professional soccer player. I'm proud to play for an organization that has shown confidence and trust in my abilities. I'll continue to work hard every day to show my commitment to this club, to my teammates and to our fans.”
An important member of the ’Caps returning core of players in 2021, Nerwinski is the second-longest tenured player on the first-team roster after originally arriving in Vancouver via the 2017 MLS SuperDraft. Nerwinski signed his first professional contract back on February 9, 2017 and one year later, also on February 9, agreed to his first contract extension.
In his first four seasons as a professional, Nerwinski has collected 98 starts and 105 appearances across all competitions, both first among all ’Caps during that time span, while contributing three goals and eight assists from the backline.
At 26, Nerwinski has been a mainstay at the right back position since joining the club out of the University of Connecticut. In league play, Nerwinski’s career numbers of 46 blocks, 371 recoveries, 95 tackles won, and 425 duels won are the most for any Whitecaps FC right back in the club’s decade-long history in MLS, while his six assists and 132 interceptions are ranked second.
The winner of the 2020 Jock MacDonald Unsung Hero award, the Lawrenceville, New Jersey native has also become a role model for youth in the community, forging lasting relationships with the BC Children’s Hospital, and Hope and Health, which aims to empower Indigenous children.
Whitecaps FC currently have 27 players under contract for the 2021 MLS season, including offseason additions in forwards Déiber Caicedo and David Egbo, and goalkeeper Evan Newton.
TRANSACTION: February 9, 2021, Whitecaps FC sign right back Jake Nerwinski to a new contract through 2022, with a club option for 2023.
