VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced on Friday that the club has acquired Canadian international right back/winger Fraser Aird on a season-long loan, with a transfer option, from Scottish Championship side Rangers FC – pending receipt of his international transfer certificate and medical.
Aird will arrive in Vancouver on Saturday and travel with the team to Tucson, Arizona on Sunday.
WHITECAPS FC RIGHT BACK/WINGER FRASER AIRD
- Earned first cap with the Canadian senior men’s national team in 2015
- Nominee for 2015 Canadian U-20 Player of the Year
- Scored 12 goals and added 17 assists in 85 appearances with Rangers FC
- 2013 Rangers FC Young Player of the Year
"We're delighted to bring Fraser into our club," said Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson. "He is a bright young Canadian talent with great energy in his play and great character. He is still learning the game and hopefully we can help his talent progress. Fraser can play a variety of positions, but we'll be looking for him to compete in the right back area.”
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aRo1b44DY0w"></a> |
<b>Highlights from Aird's 2013-14 season with Rangers FC</b> |
Aird, 20, joins Whitecaps FC after spending his entire career with Rangers.
"I'm delighted to have joined Vancouver Whitecaps FC on a season-long loan," said Aird. "Hopefully I can come in and help the team and improve as a player under Carl Robinson. I'm looking forward to meeting up with the group and getting started right away."
Born in Scarborough, Ontario to Scottish parents, Aird grew up in Canada before signing with the Rangers youth set-up at the age of 16.
Within a year of joining the club, Aird made his first-team debut in September 2012 after spending time with the U-17 and U-19 sides. He scored his first goal later that season against Queens Park FC. The following season, Aird was named the club’s Young Player of the Year after recording seven goals and 10 assists in 37 appearances. In total, Aird tallied 12 goals and 17 assists in 85 appearances with the first team.
Internationally, Aird represented Canada at the U-15 level and Scotland and the U-17 and U-19 levels before committing to the Canadian senior men’s national team. This past year, Aird made his senior international debut for Canada in a 1-1 friendly with Ghana. He was also called up to the Canadian squad for their recent World Cup qualifiers against Honduras and El Salvador.
Aird was a nominee for the 2015 Canadian U-20 Player of the Year award.
Fraser Aird
Position: Right back/winger
Height: 5-07
Weight: 155 pounds
Date of birth: February 2, 1995 in Scarborough, Ontario
Hometown: Scarborough, Ontario
Citizenship: Canada, Scotland
Status: Domestic
Previous club: Rangers FC
How acquired: Added as a Discovery Signing on a season-long loan, with a transfer option, from Scottish Championship side Rangers F.C
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