Whitecaps FC BMO MLS Academy grads currently playing in Europe

On Monday, Whitecaps FC transferred forward Theo Bair to Scottish Premiership club St Johnstone FC.

It continued a busy transfer window in MLS, with a number of up-and-coming young players making moves.

After a successful loan in Norway last year, Bair returns abroad as the latest in a growing list of Whitecaps FC BMO MLS Academy graduates currently playing on the other side of the pond.

*On loan

Sam Adekugbe
A talented left back who has been starring for Canada's men's national team on their way to the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Adekugbe joined the 'Caps academy from Calgary in 2011, and joined the MLS roster in 2013. He has since played in England with Brighton & Hove Albion, Sweden with IFK Göteborg, Norway at Vålerenga, and now in Turkey with Hatayspor.

Gloire Amanda
A forward from Edmonton who joined the Whitecaps FC academy in 2014. Amanda would eventually play with the 'Caps second team in USL in 2017 before going to play in the NCAA at Oregon State. After winning the MAC Hermann trophy as the top collegiate player, Amanda signed in Austria's top division with SK Austria Klagenfurt in 2021.

Theo Bair
The big forward came to the 'Caps academy from Ottawa in 2015. He would sign an MLS contract ahead of the 2019 season. Last year he went on loan to Norway and helped HamKam earn promotion to the top division, and now he heads to Scotland to test himself with St Johnstone FC.

Simon Colyn
A BC boy from Langley, Colyn joined the academy in 2015, and signed to the first team in 2018. He went on loan to SPAL in Italy from 2020-21, and is now playing with Jong PSV - the reserve side for PSV Eindhoven - in the Netherlands.

Alphonso Davies
Canada's superstar first came to the 'Caps from Edmonton in 2015. By 2016 he had signed with the first team, and in 2018 was transferred in an MLS record to Bayern Munich. The rest is history for the decorated Davies, now a UEFA Champions League, Bundesliga, FIFA Club World Cup, and World Best XI winner.

Kianz Froese
Froese entered the academy from Winnipeg in 2012, and signed an MLS Homegrown contract in 2014. In 2017 he moved to German club Fortuna Düsseldorf, and has played the last few seasons in the 3. Liga with 1. FC Saarbrücken and now TSV Havelse.

Jonas Häkkinen
Another local BC boy, Häkkinen came into the academy at the age of 12. He first went abroad to his parents home nation of Finland with VPS and FC Haka. Since 2021 he has played in Ireland with Cork City FC.

Chituru Odunze
A talented dual-national goalkeeper, Odunze joined the 'Caps academy from Calgary in 2017. In 2019 he signed an MLS Homegrown contract and transferred to English Premier League club Leicester City FC, where he trains with Kasper Schmeichel and the first team and has been playing with the U-23 side.

Dever Orgill
An academy player from Jamaica back in the 'Caps pre-MLS days, Orgill entered the then Residency program in 2008. He played in USL with the first team up until 2010. He's moved from Finland, to Austria, and recently with Manisa FK in Turkey.

Damiano Pecile
Another BC-born 'Caps academy player on loan. Pecile joined the academy at age 13 and signed an MLS Homegrown contract in 2020. He's currently on loan to Venezia FC in Italy, captaining the U-19 side and recently making the bench for the first team in Serie A in a match versus Inter Milan.

Daniel Stanese
A defender who grew up in Pitt Meadows, and played in the Whitecaps FC academy from 2010 to 2012. Stanese has spent his professional career in Germany, playing at FC Nürnberg, FC Augsburg, FC Energie Cottbus, FC Carl Zeiss Jena, and recently a return to VfR Aalen.

Simon Thomas
An OG from the Whitecaps FC Residency program. Thomas joined the club's academy from Victoria in 2008, and played for the 'Caps in USL through 2010, then returned to the club in MLS in 2013. He has played all over, from Huddersfield Town and Newport County in England, to Strømmen IF, FK Bodø/Glimt, Kongsvinger IL, KFUM Oslo, Sarpsborg 08, and now Tromsø IL in Norway.

Dario Zanatta
One more BC boy on the list, Zanatta played in the Whitecaps FC academy from 2011 to 2015. He's played his pro career in Scotland with Heart of Midlothian, Queen's Park, Alloa Athletic, Partick Thistle, Ayr United, and a recent return to Raith Rovers.