VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced on Saturday that the club has transferred midfielder Damiano Pecile to Italian Serie B club Venezia FC, where he played on loan in the Primavera since May of 2021.
Pecile becomes the sixth academy product transferred to a European club.
“Damiano and both clubs agreed it would be best for him to continue his development in Italy after he made great strides forward with his loan to Venezia’s Primavera team last season. Our agreement with Venezia also includes the potential to receive future compensation in the years to come,” said Axel Schuster, Whitecaps FC sporting director. “We wish Damiano all the best in this next chapter of his career.”
A dual citizen of Canada and Italy, the 20-year-old spent the majority of the 2021 season on loan with Venezia’s Primavera team, where he tallied nine goals in 22 starts and 23 appearances across all competitions.
The Burnaby, BC native originally joined the Whitecaps FC BMO Academy System in August 2015 and signed an MLS Homegrown contract in February 2020, making one MLS appearance. While playing with the club in the Development Academy league, Pecile started 43 of his 56 appearances, scoring 20 goals.
Prior to joining Whitecaps FC, Pecile had a training stint with Serie B club U.S. Cremonese youth teams in 2013.
Internationally, Pecile has represented Canada at the youth level, starting all three matches at the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup and starting four of his five appearances at the 2019 Concacaf U-17 Championship.
TRANSACTION: On July 9, 2022, Whitecaps FC transfer Damiano Pecile to the Primavera side of Italian Serie B club Venezia FC.
