VANCOUVER, BC - Vancouver Whitecaps FC loaned Homegrown centre back Gianfranco Facchineri to Canadian Premier League club Atlético Ottawa until September 30, the club confirmed on Monday.
"Frankie has shown the right mentality and approach at every training session,” said Marc Dos Santos, Whitecaps FC head coach. "This loan is a great opportunity for him to continue his development in a competitive atmosphere and we will be following his progress closely."
Facchineri, 18, joined the Whitecaps FC BMO Academy in August 2018 playing for the ’Caps U-17 and U-19 sides, before spending last year with the Development Squad. Hailing from Windsor, Ontario, Facchineri represented Canada at the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup and signed an MLS Homegrown contract in January 2020.
“This will be a great opportunity and I am very excited to earn game time and test the abilities I have learned while training with the first team over the last six months,” added Facchineri. “I’m looking forward to the challenge and playing competitive matches again.”
The 2020 CPL season was slated to begin in April before play was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In June, the league, its owners, clubs and player leadership unanimously agreed on the structure and concept of a proposed strategy on the possibility of a 2020 CPL season. Atlético Ottawa resumed training in early June.
TRANSACTION: Whitecaps FC loan Gianfranco Facchineri to Canadian Premier League club Atlético Ottawa through September 30 on July 6, 2020.
