VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced on Tuesday that Whitecaps FC 2 (WFC2) has signed Canadian forwards Gloire Amanda and Levonte Johnson, Canadian midfielder Malcolm Johnston, and re-signed American midfielder Giovanni Aguilar to MLS NEXT Pro contracts.
“It’s important that at every position we have players on our second team who are ready to push for places with the first team,” said Axel Schuster, Whitecaps FC sporting director. “As we showed last year with the most players called up from MLS NEXT Pro and three players signed to MLS contracts, there is a clear pathway to our first team through our Whitecaps FC 2 squad in MLS NEXT Pro.”
Whitecaps FC 2 forward Gloire Amanda
- Graduate of the Whitecaps FC BMO Academy System
- Played 2017 season with WFC2 in the USL Championship, scoring three goals and adding two assists
- 2020 MAC Hermann Trophy winner as the top player in the NCAA at Oregon State University
- Two seasons playing in the Austrian Bundesliga with SK Austria Klagenfurt from 2021-2023
Amanda returns to Vancouver Whitecaps FC pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate (ITC). The 24-year-old most recently spent the last two seasons playing with SK Austria Klagenfurt in the Austrian Bundesliga. In that time he made 10 appearances, scoring one goal against Rapid Wien.
Prior to moving to Austria, Amanda played three seasons at Oregon State University, accumulating 25 goals and 10 assists in 47 appearances. In his junior season, he led the NCAA in goals (15) and points (37), earning the 2020 MAC Hermann Trophy awarded to the top player in the NCAA.
The native of Edmonton, Alberta originally joined the Whitecaps FC BMO Academy as a 15-year-old in 2014, scoring 48 goals over three seasons in the Development Academy. He would go on to sign with WFC2 in 2017, making 27 appearances in the USL Championship as a 18-year-old while scoring three goals and adding two assists.
Whitecaps FC 2 forward Levonte Johnson
- Participated in 2023 preseason camp with Whitecaps FC first team
- Recorded 11 goals, six assists in 25 starts in lone season with Syracuse University
- 2022 MAC Hermann Trophy Finalist, United Soccer Coaches First Team All-America, All-ACC First Team, All-South Region First Team
- Helped Syracuse win the NCAA Division I National Championship
Johnson, 23, was selected 29th overall by Whitecaps FC in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft from Syracuse University and spent the entire preseason with the ‘Caps first team, making four appearances.
The native of Brampton, Ontario scored 11 goals and added six assists across 25 starts for Syracuse this past season, helping the side win the NCAA Division I National Championship. Johnson was one of three MAC Hermann Trophy finalists and was named to the United Soccer Coaches First Team All-America, All-ACC First Team, and All-South Region First Team.
Prior to joining Syracuse, Johnson recorded nine goals, eight assists in 20 starts and 22 appearances with Seattle University in 2021. Johnston previously spent time with Salt Lake Community College in his sophomore year, starting 16 of his 18 appearances and recording 11 goals as well as 10 assists. In his freshman year, the forward added 10 goals and four assists for Eastern Florida State College.
In addition, Johnson also played for Portland Timbers U-23 in USL League Two in 2021, tallying a goal in seven appearances.
Whitecaps FC 2 midfielder Malcolm Johnston
- Finished NCAA career at the University of Maryland starting 58 of 61 matches, recording 14 goals and 13 assists
- Team captain at Maryland in 2021 and 2022
- Native of Aurora, Ontario played in his youth at Vaughan Soccer Club
Johnston, 21, started 17 matches for the University of Maryland Terrapins in his senior season last year, registering six goals and eight assists. Johnston finished his NCAA career by starting 58 of 61 matches, recording 14 goals and 13 assists. In his final season he was a First Team All-Big Ten selection, Big Ten All-Tournament Team, and United Soccer Coaches All-Region Second Team. In 2019 he named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team.
A team captain at Maryland in both 2021 and 2022, Johnston was selected 26th overall by New York City FC in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft.
The native of Aurora, Ontario previously played at Vaughan Soccer Club and is the brother of Canadian men’s national team defender and former MLS SuperDraft pick Alistair Johnston.
Whitecaps FC midfielder Giovanni Aguilar
- Four goals, two assists in 19 starts and 22 appearances with WFC2 in 2022
- Spent 2023 preseason with the first team in Marbella, Spain, making one appearance
- Selected 49th overall by Whitecaps FC in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft
Aguilar, 24, started 19 of his 22 appearances for WFC2 in the club’s inaugural MLS NEXT Pro season, tallying four goals and two assists. Most recently, Aguilar was part of the ‘Caps first team preseason training camp in Spain. The native of Olivehurst, California was originally acquired by Vancouver via the 2022 MLS SuperDraft, getting selected 49th overall in the second round of the draft from California State University Northridge.
Gloire Amanda
Position: Forward
Height: 5-11
Weight: 175 pounds
Date of Birth: November 11, 1998 in Nyarugusu, Tanzania
Hometown: Edmonton, Alberta
Citizenship: Canada
Status: Domestic
University: Oregon State University
Youth clubs: St. Nicholas Soccer Academy, FC Edmonton, Edmonton Internazionale, Edmonton Extreme FC
Former Club: SK Austria Klagenfurt
Instagram: @gamanda10
Levonte Johnson
Position: Forward
Height: 5-10
Weight: 175 pounds
Date of Birth: March 15, 1999 in Brampton, Ontario
Hometown: Brampton, Ontario
Citizenship: Canada
Status: Domestic
University: Syracuse University, Seattle University, Salt Lake Community College, Eastern Florida College
High School: David Suzuki Secondary School
Former Club: Portland Timbers U-23
Instagram: @levontee__
Twitter: @LevontaeJohnson_
Malcolm Johnston
Position: Midfielder
Height: 6-00
Weight: 175 pounds
Date of Birth: January 12, 2001 in Aurora, Ontario
Hometown: Aurora, Ontario
Citizenship: Canadian
Status: Domestic
University: University of Maryland
High School: Aurora High School
Youth Club: Vaughan SC
Instagram: malcolmjohnston_
Twitter: @MalcolmJ_19
Giovanni Aguilar
Position: Midfielder
Height: 6-00
Weight: 175 pounds
Date of Birth: March 8, 1998 in Olivehurst, California
Hometown: Olivehurst, California
Citizenship: United States
Status: Domestic
University: California State University Northridge
Youth Club: Sacramento Republic FC
Instagram: @gioaguilar10
Twitter: @Gio\_Aguilar\_
