LOS ANGELES, CA – Vancouver Whitecaps FC selected defender Francis de Vries with the club’s second round pick (29th overall) in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft on Friday.
Whitecaps FC defender Francis de Vries
- Two-time Northeastern Conference Defender of the Year (2014 and 2015)
- Two-time NSCAA Third Team All-American (2015 and 2016)
- Won two PDL championships with Michigan Bucks (2014 and 2016)
- Spent time with FC Basel academy in Switzerland
De Vries, 22, joins Whitecaps FC after spending four seasons playing at Saint Francis University. The native of Christchurch, New Zealand started all 78 of his appearances, scoring 15 goals and recording six assists. His performances saw him twice named a NSCAA Third Team All-American, as well as two-time Northeastern Conference Defender of the Year, and three-time First Team All-Northeastern Conference.
In between his collegiate career, de Vries played in the USL PDL with Michigan Bucks, helping the club win the league championship in both 2014 and 2016.
Prior to enrolling at Saint Francis, the 6-foot-2 defender played in the youth academy of New Zealand club Canterbury United, winning the 2011 National Youth League, and later at the academy of FC Basel in Switzerland.
Francis de Vries
Position: Defender
Height: 6-2
Weight: 176
Date of Birth: November 28, 1994
Hometown: Christchurch, New Zealand
Citizenship: New Zealand
Status: International, Unsigned
Last Club: Saint Francis University Red Flash
Transaction: Selected 29th overall in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft by Whitecaps FC
