VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced on Friday that the club has signed midfielder Jeevan Badwal from the club’s MLS NEXT Pro side Whitecaps FC 2 (WFC2) to an MLS contract as a Homegrown player through 2027, with club options for 2028 and 2029.
The product of Surrey, BC is the 26th all-time academy player to sign an MLS contract with the club.
“Having joined our Academy in 2019, Jeevan continues to progress through our club and takes every challenge in stride,” said Axel Schuster, Whitecaps FC sporting director. "He is comfortable on the ball, positionally sound, and does the simple things very well. We are excited for Jeevan to make the next step in his young career.”
Whitecaps FC midfielder Jeevan Badwal
- Started 16 of his 19 appearances with WFC2 this season, scoring two goals and adding three assists
- Joined the Whitecaps FC BMO Academy system at the age of 13 in 2019
- Youngest player at Whitecaps FC preseason in Marbella, Spain
- Selected to the 2023 MLS NEXT All-Star Game
- Started all three matches for Canada at the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup
“I am very excited for this moment,” added Badwal. “It means a lot to my family and I, especially after coming through the academy with the club I grew up with and I'm really excited to get started. I want to thank the fans for all their support, I can't wait to play in front of them and show my qualities on the pitch.”
Badwal, 18, signed his first professional contract with WFC2 in February, becoming the 12th Canadian teenager to be signed to a professional contract since the side began play in MLS NEXT Pro in 2022. So far this season, he has started 16 of his 19 appearances for WFC2, notching two goals and three assists.
Badwal has signed four MLS short-term agreements with the first team this season. His first call-up was back in February for the first leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup Round One against Tigres UANL and his second call-up was for the MLS regular season away match at New England Revolution in June. The midfielder earned his first team debut in his third call-up, as he came on as a substitute in the 2024 TELUS Canadian Championship semfinal first leg against Pacific FC at Starlight Stadium. His final call-up saw him named to the bench for the home match against FC Dallas on September 7.
In 2023, Badwal made five starts and eight appearances as an amateur player with WFC2 in MLS NEXT Pro.
Prior to moving up to MLS NEXT Pro, the young midfielder played with the Whitecaps FC BMO Academy in MLS NEXT, and was selected to the 2023 MLS NEXT All-Star Game. Badwal first joined the Whitecaps FC BMO Academy as a 13-year-old in 2019.
On the international stage, Badwal has represented Canada at the U-17 level, starting all three matches at the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Indonesia. In June, the midfielder started both friendlies for Canada's U-20 side against Chile and Paraguay in La Calera, Chile, as well as all four games in the 2024 Concacaf U-20 Championship in Mexico.
In his youth, Badwal played at Coastal FC, Surrey FC, Supra Academy, and B.E.S.T. Academy.
TRANSACTION: On September 13, 2024, Whitecaps FC sign midfielder Jeevan Badwal to an MLS contract as a Homegrown player through 2027, with club options for 2028 and 2029.
Jeevan Badwal
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-09
Weight: 145 pounds
Date of Birth: March 11, 2006 in Surrey, BC
Hometown: Surrey, BC
Citizenship: Canada
Status: Domestic
Previous Team: Whitecaps FC 2 (2024)
Youth clubs: Whitecaps FC BMO Academy, Coastal FC, Surrey FC, Supra Academy, B.E.S.T. Academy
Instagram: @jeevanbadwal_
