VANCOUVER, BC - Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced on Monday that the club has acquired attacking midfielder/forward Yordy Reyna from Austrian Bundesliga champions FC Red Bull Salzburg.
Reyna, 23, was acquired with the use of Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) and has agreed to an MLS contract through 2018, with club options for 2019 and 2020. He will occupy an international roster spot and officially join the club's roster pending receipt of his international transfer certificate, Canadian work permit and visa.
Whitecaps FC attacking midfielder/forward Yordy Reyna
- Scored 14 goals in 41 appearances over three plus seasons in the Austrian Bundesliga with FC Red Bull Salzburg and SV Grödig
- Member of the 2013-2014 and 2015-16 Austrian Bundesliga and Austrian Cup (ÖFB-Cup) champions FC Red Bull Salzburg
- Made his professional debut with Peruvian Primera División club Alianza Lima in 2011 before transferring to FC Red Bull Salzburg in 2013
- Earned 17 caps with his native Peru, scoring twice
"Reyna is an exciting, hard-working, young talent, and we are thrilled to add him to our club," said Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson. "He's very direct with the ball, he can make the final pass, and he can score goals. He has all the attributes we want."
The Peruvian will join the team in Wales - upon receipt of his UK visa - this week as the club kicks off their preseason schedule with friendlies against English Football League clubs, including Championship sides Bristol City FC and Cardiff City FC, as well as League One outfit Oxford United FC.
Reyna joins Whitecaps FC after being a member of FC Red Bull Salzburg since the summer of 2013. During his three plus seasons with Die Roten Bullen , the young 5-foot-7 attacking midfielder/forward started 11 of his 22 league appearances, scoring three goals and adding two assists. In cup competition, including UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League qualifying matches, he started six of 14 appearances, adding two assists.
During that time, FC Salzburg twice won both the Austrian Bundesliga championship and the Austrian Cup in the same season, accomplishing the feat in 2013-14 and 2015-16.
Reyna also enjoyed loan spells with then Austrian Bundesliga side SV Grödig, FC Red Bull Salzburg affiliate team FC Liefering of the Austrian Football First League, and German 2. Bundesliga club RB Leipzig.
During the 2014-15 Austrian Bundesliga season with SV Grödig, Reyna scored 11 goals and added three assists in 19 appearances, and added another goal and assist in seven cup matches.
Nicknamed Magic, Reyna developed with Alianza Lima in his youth, rising to their first team and making his professional debut in 2011. He went on to score 12 goals in 47 appearances in the Peruvian Primera División before his transfer to FC Red Bull Salzburg.
In international action, the Chiclayo, Peru native has scored two goals in five starts and 17 appearances for the Peruvian senior national team. Reyna has also represented Peru at the U-20 level scoring five goals in eight matches.
Whitecaps FC 2017 season kicks off with the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal series against New York Red Bulls. The first leg is set for Wednesday, February 22, at Red Bull Arena, and the return leg will take place on Thursday, March 2, at BC Place. MLS regular season action starts on Sunday, March 5, when Whitecaps FC host Philadelphia Union at BC Place. 2017 season tickets are available from $41/month, more information at whitecapsfc.com/tickets.
Yordy Reyna
Pronunciation: Jor-DEE RAY-nuh
Position: Attacking Midfielder/Forward
Height: 5-07
Weight: 145 pounds
Date of Birth: September 17, 1993 in Chiclayo, Peru
Citizenship: Peru
Status: International
Previous Club: FC Red Bull Salzburg (Austrian Bundesliga 2013-2017)
Transaction: Acquired from Austrian Bundesliga side FC Red Bull Salzburg on January 23, 2017. Targeted Allocation Money was used to acquire Reyna, who will officially be added to the active roster pending receipt of his international transfer certificate, Canadian work permit and visa.
