VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced on Friday that the club has signed Whitecaps FC 2 (WFC2) defender Finn Linder and midfielder Eliot Goldthorp to their second MLS short-term agreements for Saturday's Leagues Cup 2024 group stage match against LIGA MX side Club Tijuana at BC Place. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. PT, live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV and TSN.
This marks the second time the pair has signed an MLS short-term agreement with the first team. Both Linder and Goldthorp made their Whitecaps FC first team BC Place debuts in the match against Wrexham AFC on July 27. Linder started the match and played the full 90 minutes, while Goldthorp came on as a substitute at halftime and played 45 minutes. The pair were also named to the bench in the 'Caps opening Leagues Cup group stage match at Los Angeles FC on July 30.
Whitecaps FC defender Finn Linder
- 14 starts and one assist with WFC2 this season
- 36 starts across three seasons with WFC2
- Three appearances with New Zealand's U-20 and U-23 sides
- Part of New Zealand’s squad at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup
Linder, 20, has started all 14 of his appearances with WFC2 this season and registered an assist in the club's 5-3 victory over Real Monarchs SLC on March 23.
An original member of WFC2, Linder has recorded 36 starts, two goals, and one assist across three seasons in MLS NEXT Pro action.
Prior to moving up to MLS NEXT Pro, Linder joined the Whitecaps FC BMO MLS Academy in 2020. Prior to his arrival in Vancouver, Linder was a part of the Whitecaps FC BMO Alberta Academy Centre in Calgary, in partnership with the Alberta Soccer Association and Calgary Minor Soccer Association.
On the international stage, Linder has presented New Zealand at both the U-20 and U-23 levels, making three starts. Two of his starts with his country came at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup alongside WFC2 midfielder Jay Herdman, where New Zealand reached the Round of 16.
In his youth, Linder spent time with Calgary Blizzard.
Whitecaps FC midfielder Eliot Goldthorp
- Six goals, seven assists across 15 starts and 17 appearances for WFC2 this season, tied for league-lead in goal contributions
- Named MLS NEXT Pro Player of the Month for June
- Selected 45th overall by Whitecaps FC in 2024 MLS SuperDraft
- Two seasons at Hofstra University, recording 25 goals and 21 assists in 42 starts and 43 apperances
- 2023 Coastal Athletic Association Player of the Year, led NCAA with 15 assists in 2023
Goldthorp, 22, has recorded six goals as well as seven assists in 15 starts and 17 appearances during his first season with WFC2. Goldthorp's seven assists are a WFC2 record for most assists in a season and his 13 goal contributions are tied for the league-lead in goal contributions. In addition, he is second in the league in successful crosses with 32 and is tied for fifth in the league in key passes with 35. Primarily being deployed as a wingback, Goldthorp was also named MLS NEXT Pro's Player of the Month for June after recording mutliple goal contributions in four of his five appearances during the month.
The product of Leeds, England was originally selected 45th overall by Whitecaps FC during the 2024 MLS SuperDraft after spending the past two seasons at Hofstra University.
At Hofstra, Goldthorp scored 25 goals and added 21 assists in 42 starts and 43 appearances. In 2023, he led the NCAA with 15 assists, became the first United Soccer Coaches First Team All-American in program history, and was named the Coastal Athletic Association Player of the Year. In 2022, he was a Second Team All-American, First Team All-Colonial Athletic Association, and the CAA Championship Most Outstanding Player. Goldthorp also played USL League Two for Des Moines Menace during the summer of 2022, scoring nine goals and adding two assists in 12 appearances.
Prior to making the move to Hofstra, Goldthorp played at Old Dominion University, earning Second Team All-Conference USA and Conference USA All-Rookie honours, leading the team in scoring with four goals and two assists.
In his youth, Goldthorp played in the academies of Manchester United and his hometown Leeds United before going on to play first team football at Bradford City, scoring on his debut in the EFL Trophy. He would go on to play on loan at lower division sides Mossley, Radcliffe, and Matlock Town, before making a stop at Farsley Celtic and Frickley Athletic.
TRANSACTION: On August 2, 2024, Whitecaps FC sign defender Finn Linder and midfielder Eliot Goldthorp to MLS short-term agreements.
Finn Linder
Position: Defender
Height: 6-03
Weight: 170 pounds
Date of Birth: May 6, 2004 in Calgary, Alberta
Hometown: Calgary, Alberta
Citizenship: Canada
Status: Domestic 
Youth clubs: Whitecaps FC BMO Academy, Calgary Blizzard
Instagram: @finn.linder
Eliot Goldthorp
Position: Midfielder
Height: 6-00
Weight: 170 pounds
Date of Birth: November 3, 2001
Hometown: Leeds, England
Citizenship: England
Status: International
University: Hofstra University (2022-23), Old Dominion University (2021)
Former clubs: Bradford City, Mossley, Radcliffe, Matlock Town, Farsley Celtic, Frickley Athletic, Des Moines Menace
Youth clubs: Manchester United, Leeds United, Bradford City
Instagram: @eliot.goldthorp_
