VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced on Friday that the club has signed six Whitecaps FC 2 (WFC2) players to MLS short-term agreements for Saturday's match against Wrexham AFC at BC Place. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. PT. Fans can watch the match on TSN5 and listen live at cknw.com and whitecapsfc.com.
Defenders Mihail Gherasimencov, Finn Linder, and Buster Sjöberg, as well as midfielders Eliot Goldthorp, Liam Mackenzie, and Malcolm Simmons will all be available for selection on Saturday. In addition, Gherasimencov, Linder, and Goldthorp will be eligible for selection for Vancouver's Leagues Cup matchup at Los Angeles FC on Tuesday, July 30 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California. This marks the first time all six have signed a short-term agreement with the first team.
Whitecaps FC defender Mihail Gherasimencov
- Has started 15 of his 16 appearances for WFC2 in 2024
- Sits second on WFC2 in assists this season with five
- Five appearances for Moldova's U-19 side
- Selected to 2022 MLS NEXT All-Star Game
Gherasimencov, 19, was born in Balti, Moldova before his family moved to Calgary, Alberta in 2016.
So far in 2024, Gherasimencov has started 15 of his 16 appearances for WFC2 in MLS NEXT Pro, tallying a career-high seven goal contributions (two goals, five assists) and sitting second on the team in assists.
During his time with WFC2, Gherasimencov has made 31 starts and 39 appearances since making his professional debut in August 2022.
Prior to joining the second team, the defender played his youth soccer with Calgary Blizzard and originally joined the Whitecaps FC BMO Alberta Academy Centre in Calgary, before being selected to the Whitecaps FC BMO MLS Academy program in Vancouver in 2020.
During the 2022 season, Gherasimencov was selected to the inaugural MLS NEXT All-Star Game featuring the top academy players from across the league.
Internationally, Gherasimencov has represented Moldova at the U-19 level, making five appearances and scoring once since recieving his first call-up in June 2023.
Whitecaps FC defender Finn Linder
- 14 starts and one assist with WFC2 this season
- 36 starts across three seasons with WFC2
- Three appearances with New Zealand's U-20 and U-23 sides
- Part of New Zealand’s squad at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup
Linder, 20, has started all 14 of his appearances with WFC2 this season and registered an assist in the club's 5-3 victory over Real Monarchs SLC on March 23.
An original member of WFC2, Linder has recorded 36 starts, two goals, and one assist across three seasons in MLS NEXT Pro action.
Prior to moving up to MLS NEXT Pro, Linder joined the Whitecaps FC BMO MLS Academy in 2020. Prior to his arrival in Vancouver, Linder was a part of the Whitecaps FC BMO Alberta Academy Centre in Calgary, in partnership with the Alberta Soccer Association and Calgary Minor Soccer Association.
On the international stage, Linder has presented New Zealand at both the U-20 and U-23 levels, making three starts. Two of his starts with his country came at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup alongside WFC2 midfielder Jay Herdman, where New Zealand reached the Round of 16.
In his youth, Linder spent time with Calgary Blizzard.
Whitecaps FC defender Buster Sjöberg
- 14 starts with WFC2 this season, leads team in clearances with 33
- Selected 71st overall by Whitecaps FC in 2023 MLS SuperDraft
- 48 starts and 55 appearances across two seasons with Syracuse University
- Helped Syracuse win the NCAA Division I National Championship
Sjöberg, 23, has started all 14 of his appearances during his first season with WFC2, leading the team in clearances with 33.
The Swedish centre back was originally drafted 71st overall by Whitecaps FC during the 2023 MLS SuperDraft from Syracuse University and signed an MLS NEXT Pro contract back in March.
During his time at Syracuse, Sjöberg started 48 of his 55 appearances and recorded two goals as well as one assist, helping the side win the 2022 NCAA Division I National Championship alongside Whitecaps FC forward Levonte Johnson. The defender received recognition during his time with the Orange by being selected for the 2022 Academic All-District Team as well as the 2021 All-ACC Academic Team.
Prior to joining Syracuse, Sjöberg spent two seasons with Wofford College, starting all 26 of his appearances. In terms of accolades, the native of Uppsala, Sweden was named to the 2020-21 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll, Southern Conference All-Academic Team, All-Southern Conference First Team, 2019-20 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll, 2019 Southern Conference All-Freshman Team and All-Southern Conference Second Team.
During his two college stints, Sjöberg played with USL League Two sides One Knoxville SC in 2022 and South Carolina United Bantams, winning the Southern Division with both teams.
In his youth, Sjöberg spent time in his native country with IK Sirius’ U-21 side.
Whitecaps FC midfielder Eliot Goldthorp
- Six goals, seven assists across 15 starts and 17 appearances for WFC2 this season, tied for league-lead in goal contributions
- Named MLS NEXT Pro Player of the Month for June
- Selected 45th overall by Whitecaps FC in 2024 MLS SuperDraft
- Two seasons at Hofstra University, recording 25 goals and 21 assists in 42 starts and 43 apperances
- 2023 Coastal Athletic Association Player of the Year, led NCAA with 15 assists in 2023
Goldthorp, 22, has recorded six goals as well as seven assists in 15 starts and 17 appearances during his first season with WFC2. Goldthorp's seven assists are a WFC2 record for most assists in a season and his 13 goal contributions are tied for the league-lead in goal contributions. In addition, he is second in the league in successful crosses with 32 and is tied for fifth in the league in key passes with 35. Primarily being deployed as a wingback, Goldthorp was also named MLS NEXT Pro's Player of the Month for June after recording mutliple goal contributions in four of his five appearances during the month.
The product of Leeds, England was originally selected 45th overall by Whitecaps FC during the 2024 MLS SuperDraft after spending the past two seasons at Hofstra University.
At Hofstra, Goldthorp scored 25 goals and added 21 assists in 42 starts and 43 appearances. In 2023, he led the NCAA with 15 assists, became the first United Soccer Coaches First Team All-American in program history, and was named the Coastal Athletic Association Player of the Year. In 2022, he was a Second Team All-American, First Team All-Colonial Athletic Association, and the CAA Championship Most Outstanding Player. Goldthorp also played USL League Two for Des Moines Menace during the summer of 2022, scoring nine goals and adding two assists in 12 appearances.
Prior to making the move to Hofstra, Goldthorp played at Old Dominion University, earning Second Team All-Conference USA and Conference USA All-Rookie honours, leading the team in scoring with four goals and two assists.
In his youth, Goldthorp played in the academies of Manchester United and his hometown Leeds United before going on to play first team football at Bradford City, scoring on his debut in the EFL Trophy. He would go on to play on loan at lower division sides Mossley, Radcliffe, and Matlock Town, before making a stop at Farsley Celtic and Frickley Athletic.
Whitecaps FC midfielder Liam Mackenzie
- Started 12 of his 14 appearances with WFC2 this season, scored two goals and added three assists
- Selected to 2024 MLS NEXT All-Star Game
- Started three of his five appearances for Canada at the 2023 Concacaf U-17 Championship
- Youngest player at Whitecaps FC 2024 preseason in Coachella Valley, California
Mackenzie, 17, signed his first professional contract with WFC2 in April, becoming the 13th Canadian teenager to be signed to a professional contract since the side began play in MLS NEXT Pro in 2022. So far this season, the midfielder has started four of his nine appearances for WFC2, notching one assist.
Recently, Mackenzie was also called up to the 2024 MLS NEXT All-Star Game, where he registered an assist on the opening goal of the match by Albion SC LA's Anthony Boyadjian.
The Comox, BC native originally made his professional debut during the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro regular season campaign as a substitute against St. Louis CITY SC on September 9, 2023.
Prior to moving up to MLS NEXT Pro, Mackenzie played with the Whitecaps FC BMO Academy in MLS NEXT. Mackenzie first joined the Whitecaps FC BMO Academy as a 13-year-old in August 2020 after playing with Vancouver Island Wave in the EA SPORTS BC Soccer Premier League. During his time with the Academy, the youngster captained both the U-15 and U-17 sides and has taken part in three Generation adidas Cups with both age groups. He’s also been a recipient of several Whitecaps FC BMO Academy awards, including the 2022 U-15 Player of the Year award and Academy Best XI, and the 2023 U-17 Student Athlete award and Cornerstone award.
On the international stage, Mackenzie has represented Canada at the U-17 level, playing a year up when he began competing with the side. The midfielder started three of his five appearances at the 2023 Concacaf U-17 Championship, adding a goal and an assist as the team reached the semifinals of the tournament. Mackenzie was also an alternate for Canada at the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Indonesia.
Whitecaps FC midfielder Malcolm Simmons
- Started 13 of his 16 appearances with WFC2 this season, tallying two assists
- Fifth-mosted passes and fifth-best passing accuracy (minimum 10 appearances) on WFC2 this season
- Previously on loan with SL Benfica's U-23 side
Simmons, 21, has started 13 of his 16 appearances during his first full season with WFC2, tallying two assists.
Last season, the native of Trois-Rivières, Québec made three starts and five appearances after being acquired by WFC2 via transfer from Portuguese club SC Lusitânia in August 2023.
Prior to making the move to Vancouver, the midfielder enjoyed a loan spell with SL Benfica’s U-23 side, featuring in the Liga Revelação, and Torneio Abertura where they made the final.
Simmons also spent time with CS Panellinios during his youth.
TRANSACTION: On July 26, 2024, Whitecaps FC sign defenders Mihail Gherasimencov, Finn Linder, and Buster Sjöberg, as well as midfielders Eliot Goldthorp, Liam Mackenzie, and Malcolm Simmons to MLS short-term agreements.
