VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced on Sunday that the club has signed defender Daniel Russo to a Whitecaps FC 2 (WFC2) contract in MLS NEXT Pro. Russo is signed through 2025, with an option for 2026.
Whitecaps FC 2 defender Daniel Russo
- Spent the 2024 season with Atlanta United 2 in MLS NEXT Pro
- Four seasons at the University of Notre Dame
- Member of the New York Red Bulls academy in his youth
Russo, 23, most recently spent the 2024 season with fellow MLS NEXT Pro side Atlanta United 2. The Jackson, New Jersey native made one start and two appearances for the Five Stripes.
Prior to making the move to Atlanta, Russo spent four seasons playing at the University of Notre Dame, playing the majority of his minutes as a winger. In his first season at Notre Dame, Russo made 13 appearances, including five starts, and had one goal and one assist. He continued to progress the following season, playing in 24 matches and tallying three goals as well as four assists.
His best scoring output of his collegiate career came in his junior year in 2022. He led the Irish in points (16) as well as goals scored (6) while playing in all 17 matches and tallied his first hat-trick of his career in a comeback win against Michigan. In his final season at Notre Dame, Russo played a career-high 1,444 minutes and found the back of the net four times, as Notre Dame advanced to the College Cup Final before falling 2-1 to Clemson University. Russo started every match of the team’s NCAA Tournament run and finished his Notre Dame career with 14 goals as well as 11 assists.
In his youth, Russo played his prep career at Jackson Memorial and was a member of the New York Red Bulls academy before heading to South Bend.
Daniel Russo
Position: Defender
Height: 5-11
Weight: 165 pounds
Date of Birth: March 24, 2002 in Jackson, New Jersey
Hometown: Jackson, New Jersey
Citizenship: United States
Status: Domestic
University: University of Notre Dame
Former Club: Atlanta United 2 (‘23-’24)
Youth Clubs: New York Red Bulls Academy
