VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced on Saturday the signing of goalkeeper Max Anchor from the Whitecaps FC BMO Academy System to an MLS Homegrown pre-contract starting in 2023. The 17-year old has agreed to a multi-year MLS contract through 2025 with club options for 2026 and 2027.
Anchor has also agreed to a contract with Whitecaps FC 2 to play during the remainder of the 2022 MLS NEXT Pro season, as well as an MLS Short-Term agreement for Sunday's MLS match at Charlotte FC.
The product of Burnaby, BC becomes the 25th all-time academy player to sign an MLS Homegrown contract with the club.
"Max is a young goalkeeper and has done well in every step he’s made at the club," said Axel Schuster, Whitecaps FC sporting director. "He is a good fit with our other keepers and we are looking forward to see him test himself at the next level."
Anchor has been in the Whitecaps FC BMO MLS Academy since joining as a 13-year-old from Mountain United FC of the EA SPORTS BC Soccer Premier League in 2017. Recently, the goalkeeper spent the entirety of preseason with the Whitecaps FC first team, including traveling with the squad to California.
"This means everything to me, it's something that every player dreams of when they come into the academy," said Anchor. "I want to thank everyone who has helped me on this journey, especially my family as well as Raegyn Hall and Youssef Dahha with Whitecaps FC, and Angus Brown at Mountain United FC. This is just the beginning and I'm excited to get going."
At the international level, Anchor was called up to represent Canada at the 2019 Concacaf U-15 Boys Championship, and in April was called into camp in Costa Rica with Canada's U-20 men's national team.
Max Anchor
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 6-03
Weight: 190 pounds
Date of Birth: July 21, 2004 in Surrey, BC
Hometown: Burnaby, BC
Citizenship: Canada
Status: Domestic
Youth Teams: Whitecaps FC BMO MLS Academy, Mountain United FC
Instagram: @maxanchor_
Twitter: @max_anchor
