VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced on Friday that the club has signed forward Emiliano Brienza from the Whitecaps FC BMO MLS Academy to an MLS NEXT Pro professional contract through 2022, with a club option for 2023. Additionally, the club has signed Brienza to an MLS short-term agreement and the 19-year-old product of Coquitlam, BC will be eligible for Saturday’s MLS regular season opener against Columbus Crew.
Whitecaps FC 2 forward Emiliano Brienza
- First player from the Whitecaps FC BMO MLS Academy to sign an MLS NEXT Pro contract with Whitecaps FC 2
- Member of the club's academy since 2018
- Participated in the ’Caps first team preseason camps in 2021 and 2022
- Previously played with Mountain United FC in the EA SPORTS BC Soccer Premier League
“Emiliano has been a member of our club for a number of years, and we are excited to officially add him to our new MLS NEXT Pro team with the added bonus of having him travel with the first team for our season opener in Columbus,” said Axel Schuster, Whitecaps FC sporting director. “Emiliano is the first of many young players from our academy who will join WFC2 this season and take the next step in their promising careers.”
Brienza first joined the Whitecaps FC BMO MLS Academy in September 2018 and has since participated in the last two first team preseason camps. The young forward becomes the first player from the Whitecaps FC Academy to sign an MLS NEXT Pro contract.
“I’m happy to take this next step in my career and excited to extend my stay at this club, where I’ve been at for so long,” added Brienza. “I am thankful to everyone who has supported me along the way and helped me get to where I am today.”
Born in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Brienza and his family moved to Metro Vancouver in 2014 and previously played with Mountain United FC in the EA SPORTS BC Soccer Premier League.
Internationally, the midfielder has also spent time with Canada at the youth level, earning a call-up to the U-17 national team camp in August 2018 and was a member of Canada’s 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup roster.
TRANSACTION: On February 25, 2022, Whitecaps FC sign forward Emiliano Brienza to MLS NEXT Pro professional contract through 2022, with a club option for 2023. Additionally, Brienza has been signed to an MLS short-term agreement with the first team.
Emiliano Brienza
Position: Forward
Height: 5-10
Weight: 175 pounds
Date of Birth: May 9, 2002, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Hometown: Coquitlam, BC
Citizenship: Mexico, Canada
Status: Domestic
Youth Teams: Whitecaps FC BMO MLS Academy, Mountain United FC
Instagram: @emilianobrienza
Twitter: @emilianobrienza
