Joe Bendik

A goalkeeper with plenty of experience, Bendik joined Whitecaps FC in February 2024 after spending the last four and a half seasons with Philadelphia Union.

The American agreed to a contract through 2024, with an option for 2025.

WHITECAPS FC

'24: Bendik provided a key locker room presence amongst the squad. The goalkeeper's lone appearance of the season came in the international friendly against Wrexham AFC on July 27.

PHILADELPHIA UNION

'19-'23: Bendik spent four and a half seasons with Eastern Conference side Philadelphia Union, starting 11 of his 14 appearances across all competitions for the club. Two of his appearances came during the Union’s Supporters’ Shield winning season in 2020.

COLUMBUS CREW

'19: Bendik made six appearances during his short stint with Columbus before being traded to the Union.

ORLANDO CITY SC

'16-'18: After being traded from Toronto in exchange for a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft, Bendik's first season with the Lions saw the goalkeeper start every MLS regular-season game for the first time in his career. Over those 34 starts, he totaled 114 saves and nine wins. In 2017, the goalkeeper enjoyed one of his best seasons as he totalled a career-high seven shutouts, 118 saves, and 10 wins, with a 1.58 goals-against average in 33 starts. In his third season with Orlando, Bendik made 25 appearances, making 84 stops with a 2.35 goals-against average.

TORONTO FC

'13-'15: Bendik was traded to Toronto prior to the 2013 campaign along with allocation money and the third overall pick in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft in exchange for Ryan Johnson and Milos Kocic. He made 33 appearances (33 starts) during that first season with the Reds, achieving a single-season career-best goals-against average of 1.39. Bendik made 27 starts during his second season in Toronto. In his last year in Toronto, Bendik made 13 starts for the Reds.

PORTLAND TIMBERS

'12: After his spell in Norway, Bendik returned to the United States and signed with Portland ahead of the 2012 MLS season, where he started three of his five appearances for the Timbers.

SOGNDAL IF

'10-'11: After graduating from Clemson, Bendik began his professional career in Norway with Sogndal Fotball. He made four appearances in his first season, helping the club gain promotion to the top flight. Bendik made five appearances in net over his second season in Norway, including his Norwegian topflight debut on March 20, 2011 against Strømsgodset IF.

INTERNATIONAL

Bendik is a former U.S. youth international, having played at the U-20, U-18 and U-17 levels. He was also named to the USMNT's preliminary roster for the 2017 Concacaf Gold Cup.

COLLEGE

Bendik played college soccer at Clemson University from 2006 to 2009.