VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced on Saturday that the club has signed York United FC goalkeeper Nikolaos “Niko” Giantsopoulos to a Major League Soccer Short-Term Agreement through Sunday - pending medical. Giantsopoulos is scheduled to arrive in North Carolina tonight and will be available for Sunday's regular season match at Charlotte FC, which kicks off at 2 p.m. PT live on TSN1 and AM730.
The 'Caps are eligible for Extreme Hardship, which exists when a team has fewer than two goalkeepers available or has less than 16 outfield players available. “We are very thankful to York, especially Niko, head coach Martin Nash, and general manager Angus McNab,” said Axel Schuster, Whitecaps FC sporting director. “It is great to see Canadian clubs stand together and we are also grateful to our colleagues at the Canadian Premier League and Canada Soccer for their help.”
Whitecaps FC goalkeeper Niko Giantsopoulos
- Three clean sheets in eight starts across all competitions this season with York United FC
- Since returning to Canada in 2019, has made 22 Canadian Premier League appearances, as well as five Canadian Championship starts with Cavalry FC and York United FC
- 87 professional appearances playing in Australia and Canada
Giantsopoulos, 27, has started all eight matches for York United FC this season and kept three clean sheets across all competitions. The native of Markham, Ontario joined the Nine Stripes in 2021 and has made 15 starts and 17 appearances for the club across all competitions.
Prior to joining York, Giantsopoulos played for fellow Canadian Premier League side Cavalry FC, tallying four clean sheets in 10 starts over two years.
Giantsopoulos started his career as a member of League1 Ontario side Durham United FC in 2014 before joining Devonport City Strikers in the NPL Tasmania, the second tier of Australian football. From there, he also played for NPL Northern NSW side Broadmeadow Magic FC and NPL Tasmania club Launceston City.
TRANSACTION: On May 21, 2022, Whitecaps FC sign goalkeeper Nikolaos Giantsopoulos to a MLS Short-Term Agreement through May 22, 2022.
Nikolaos Giantsopoulos
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 6-00
Weight: 170 pounds
Date of Birth: June 24, 1994, in Markham, Ontario
Hometown: Markham, Ontario
Citizenship: CanadaStatus: Domestic
Professional Clubs: York United FC (2021-22), Cavalry FC (2019-2020), Launceston City FC (2018), Broadmeadow Magic FC (2017), Devonport City Strikers (2016)
Instagram: @nikolaosgiants
Twitter: @NikolaosGiants
