VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced on Tuesday that the club has signed Whitecaps FC 2 (WFC2) midfielders Jeevan Badwal and Jay Herdman to MLS short-term agreements for Wednesday's Concacaf Champions Cup Round One first leg against Tigres UANL.
This marks the first time Badwal and Herdman have signed MLS short-term agreements. Most recently, the pair were part of the first team’s preseason training camp in Marbella, Spain.
“This is a great opportunity for Jeevan and Jay,” said Axel Schuster, Whitecaps FC sporting director. “Our second team is an extension of our first team, providing a clear pathway for all of our players such as Ali Ahmed, who started his career in MLS NEXT Pro and has gone on to play with the Canadian men's national team. We look forward to seeing Jeevan, Jay, and all of our young players continue to progress in their development.”
Whitecaps FC midfielder Jeevan Badwal
- 17-year-old was the youngest player at Whitecaps FC preseason in Marbella, Spain
- Five starts in eight MLS NEXT Pro appearances as an amateur player with WFC2 in 2023
- Selected to the 2023 MLS NEXT All-Star Game
- Started all three matches for Canada at the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup
Badwal, 17, signed his first professional contract with WFC2 last week, becoming the 12th Canadian teenager to be signed to a professional contract since the side began play in MLS NEXT Pro in 2022.
In 2023, the product of Surrey, BC made five starts and eight appearances as an amateur player with WFC2 in MLS NEXT Pro.
Prior to moving up to MLS NEXT Pro, the young midfielder played with the Whitecaps FC BMO Academy in MLS NEXT, and was selected to the 2023 MLS NEXT All-Star Game. Badwal first joined the Whitecaps FC BMO Academy as a 13-year-old in 2019.
On the international stage, Badwal has represented Canada at the U-17 level, starting all three matches at the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Indonesia.
In his youth, Badwal played at Coastal FC, Surrey FC, Supra Academy, and B.E.S.T. Academy.
Whitecaps FC midfielder Jay Herdman
- Participated in Whitecaps FC preseason in Marbella, Spain
- Three goals, three assists in 14 starts and 26 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 this past November. The New Zealand youth international 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.
Whitecaps FC MLS short-term agreements:
- Emiliano Brienza at Columbus Crew (February 26, 2022)
- Ali Ahmed at Austin FC (April 23, 2022)
- Vasco Fry at Austin FC (April 23, 2022)
- Max Anchor at Charlotte FC (May 22, 2022)
- Chris Lee vs. Minnesota United FC (July 8, 2022)
- Chris Lee at FC Cincinnati (July 13, 2022)
- Ali Ahmed vs. Houston Dynamo FC (August 5, 2022)
- Simon Becher vs. Houston Dynamo FC (August 5, 2022)
- Easton Ongaro at LA Galaxy (August 13, 2022)
- Simon Becher at Colorado Rapids (September 10, 2022)
- Vasco Fry at Real C.D. España (March 15, 2023) & at LA Galaxy (March 18, 2023)
- Levonte Johnson at Real C.D. España (March 15, 2023) & at LA Galaxy (March 18, 2023)
- Vasco Fry at Minnesota United FC (March 25, 2023)
- Levonte Johnson at York United FC (May 10, 2023)
- Levonte Johnson at Pacific FC (May 24, 2023) & at St. Louis CITY SC (May 27, 2023)
- Levonte Johnson vs. CF Montréal (June 7, 2023)
- Giovanni Aguilar at Colorado Rapids (June 21, 2023)
- Giovanni Aguilar at LAFC (June 24, 2023)
- Giovanni Aguilar at Sporting Kansas City (July 1, 2023)
- Jeevan Badwal vs. Tigres UANL (February 7, 2024)
- Jay Herdman vs. Tigres UANL (February 7, 2024)
TRANSACTION: On February 6, 2024, Whitecaps FC sign midfielders Jeevan Badwal and Jay Herdman to MLS short-term agreements.
Jeevan Badwal
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-09
Weight: 145 pounds
Date of Birth: March 11, 2006 in Surrey, BC
Hometown: Surrey, BC
Citizenship: Canada
Status: Domestic
Youth clubs: Whitecaps FC BMO Academy, Coastal FC, Surrey FC, Supra Academy, B.E.S.T. Academy
Instagram: @jeevanbadwal_
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
