Giles Barnes

PROFILE
Vancouver Whitecaps FC acquired Giles Barnes from Houston Dynamo on July 30, 2016. Described by Carl Robinson as a "dynamic offensive player in the prime of his career," Barnes joined Whitecaps FC after four years with Houston and eight years in the upper echelons of English soccer, including 35 appearances in the English Premier League.

VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC
Barnes finished his first season with Whitecaps FC with a two-goal performance on Decision Day versus Portland Timbers. His outing earned him MLS Player of the Week honours as he lifted the 'Caps to their sixth Cascadia Cup with the 4-1 win. Besides the two goals, Barnes also tallied one assist in eight starts and 10 regular season appearances in the Blue and White. Splitting his time between Whitecaps FC and Houston Dynamo, Barnes recorded six goals and three assists in 21 starts and 24 regular season appearances in 2016. 

HOUSTON DYNAMO
Barnes made his debut with the Dynamo in September 2012 and went on to start 108 of his 113 MLS regular season appearances with Houston, recording 31 goals and 14 assists. He also scored a pair of goals in four U.S. Open Cup appearances and played seven matches in the CONCACAF Champions League, where he scored his first goal with the club on September 20, 2012 against CD FAS. Barnes was named Houston’s MVP and Players’ Player of the Year in 2014 after leading the team in goals for the second straight year. Barnes, who was appointed Houston’s captain ahead of the 2016 MLS campaign, had four goals and two assists in 14 appearances in his final season with the Dynamo, before being acquired by Whitecaps FC.

ENGLAND
Before making the move to North America, Barnes spent eight years in the upper echelons of English soccer, deputing with Derby County at the age of 17. He scored 10 goals in 84 appearances with the Rams and was named the club’s Young Player of the Year in 2007 after helping them earn promotion to the English Premier League. Among his more notable moments with Derby was a two-goal substitute performance against Manchester United at Old Trafford in the League Cup semifinals in January 2009. In total, Barnes went on to make 138 appearances in the top two divisions of English soccer, also spending time with West Bromwich Albion – whom he also helped earn promotion to the Premiership – and Doncaster Rovers. That includes 35 matches in the Premier League.

INTERNATIONAL 
A native of Barking, London, England, Barnes scored seven goals in 12 appearances with England’s U-19s before deciding to represent Jamaica at the senior level as he was eligible through his paternal grandparents. He has three goals in more than 15 appearances with Jamaica to date, having represented them at the 2015 Copa América, 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup – where they reached the final – and the 2016 Copa América Centenario.