VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced on Friday that the club has signed Whitecaps FC 2 (WFC2) midfielder Jay Herdman to an MLS short-term agreement for Saturday's MLS regular season away match against Seattle Sounders FC.
This marks the third time Herdman has been signed to an MLS short-term agreement. The midfielder signed his first short-term agreement in February for the club’s Concacaf Champions Cup Round One first leg against Tigres UANL and signed his second agreement for the MLS home opener against Charlotte FC on March. Herdman was an unused substitute on both occasions.
Whitecaps FC midfielder Jay Herdman
- Started all four matches for WFC2 this season as captain
- Participated in Whitecaps FC preseason in Marbella, Spain and Coachella Valley, California
- Three goals, four assists in 18 starts and 30 appearances for WFC2 in MLS NEXT Pro
- Started three matches for New Zealand at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup, scoring once
Herdman, 19, signed a new contract with WFC2 through 2024 last November. The New Zealand youth international has started all four of WFC2's matches this season, captaining the side and recording one assist.
Last season, Herdman tallied one goal and two assists in five starts and eight appearances during the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro regular season before his season was cut short due to a knee injury.
In 2022, Herdman started nine of his 18 appearances in MLS NEXT Pro, tallying two goals as well as an assist.
Herdman originally entered the Whitecaps FC BMO MLS Academy as a 13-year-old in 2017 from Surrey United SC in the EA SPORTS BC Soccer Premier League.
Internationally, Herdman has represented New Zealand 14 times across the U-19, U-20, and U-23 sides. Most recently, the midfielder was part of New Zealand’s squad at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He started three of the Kiwis’ four matches at the tournament, scoring a goal of the tournament contender against Uzbekistan.
TRANSACTION: On April 19, 2024, Whitecaps FC sign midfielder Jay Herdman to an MLS short-term agreement.
Jay Herdman
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-07
Weight: 140 pounds
Date of Birth: August 14, 2004 in Invercargill, New Zealand
Hometown: Surrey, BC
Citizenship: New Zealand, United Kingdom
Status: Domestic
Youth clubs: Whitecaps FC BMO MLS Academy, Surrey United SC
Instagram: @jjherdy110
