VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced on Friday that the club has signed Development Squad midfielder and Whitecaps FC BMO Academy System product Damiano Pecile to an MLS Homegrown contract.



Pecile, 17, becomes the 22nd academy product to sign an MLS Homegrown contract with the club, joining Thomas Hasal, Georges Mukumbilwa, Patrick Metcalfe, and Gianfranco Facchineri as Development Squad players who have signed in the last year.

“Damiano is a talented young prospect who still has a great deal of room to develop and improve,” said Axel Schuster, Whitecaps FC sporting director. “For now, Damiano will continue to play with our Development Squad, as well as our U-19 team. We will continue to evaluate the best options for him, which may include a loan in the coming months should it make sense for his progression.”



Pecile split 2019 playing with the Whitecaps FC Development Squad, including trips to face international competition in England, South Korea, and Mexico, with the Academy U-19 side, and with Canada’s U-17 national team.



Whitecaps FC central midfielder Damiano Pecile

Joined the Whitecaps FC BMO Academy System as a 13-year-old in 2015

Member of the Whitecaps FC Development Squad that included trips to England, South Korea, and Mexico in 2019

Represented Canada at the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Brazil, playing every minute

Pecile originally joined the Whitecaps FC BMO Academy System in August of 2015. While playing with the club in the Development Academy league, Pecile started 43 of his 56 appearances, scoring 20 goals.



“It means everything to me to finally sign my first professional contract,” added Pecile. “I would like to thank my parents, family, coaches, friends, and everyone who has helped me along the way. This is a dream come true.”



At the international level, Pecile recently represented Canada at the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup, playing every minute of the three matches. The Burnaby, BC native was also previously called up at the U-15 level.



Prior to joining the Whitecaps FC BMO Academy System, Pecile played with Mountain United FC in the EA SPORTS BC Soccer Premier League (BCSPL), as well as with Burnaby Selects and Cliff Avenue United FC. In his youth, Pecile participated in the BC Soccer Provincial Program.



Damiano Pecile

Position: Central midfielder

Pronunciation: peh-seal

Height: 6-00

Weight: 160 pounds

Date of Birth: April 11, 2002 in Burnaby, BC

Hometown: Burnaby, BC

Citizenship: Canada, Italy

Status: Domestic

Youth Clubs: Cliff Avenue United FC, Burnaby Selects, Mountain United FC

VWFC Teams: WFC Academy ('15 - present), Whitecaps FC Development Squad ('19 - present)