VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced today the addition of Residency attacking midfielder Marco Bustos. Per Major League Soccer and club policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.

Whitecaps FC midfielder Marco Bustos

Made first-team debut on May 7, 2014 vs. TFC in the Amway Canadian Championship

2013 Whitecaps FC Most Promising Player

Runner-up for 2012 Canadian U-17 Player of the Year

Started two of three matches for Canada at 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup

Scored 38 goals in 59 matches with Vancouver's U-18 side in the USSDA

“Marco brings a great soccer brain to the table,” said Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson. “He’s a sharp player with tremendous skill and a great ability to score goals. Marco deserves this opportunity and we’re thrilled to see him continue to develop.”

Bustos, 18, has signed a pre-contract with Whitecaps FC and will officially be added to the club’s MLS roster in January. The native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, made his professional debut with Whitecaps FC on May 7, 2014, starting and playing 64 minutes in the first leg of the Amway Canadian championship semifinal series against Toronto FC.

“It’s an honour to sign my first professional contract with the club that has supported me and shown belief in me throughout my development,” said Bustos. “I want to thank my family and friends and all the Whitecaps FC coaches and staff who have helped me achieve my dream.”

Having joined the Residency program in 2011, Bustos won the club award for Most Promising Player following the 2013 season. During his time with Whitecaps FC U-18, Bustos has scored 38 goals while starting 52 of his 59 appearances in the United States Soccer Development Academy (USSDA). Prior to moving up to the U-18 squad, Bustos scored five goals while starting 19 of 32 matches with Whitecaps FC U-16. With the U-23 squad in 2014, the young playmaker started five of his seven appearances and scored four goals in the United Soccer Leagues (USL) Premier Development League (PDL).

Internationally, Bustos has represented Canada at the U-17 level. In 2013, the Canadian midfielder started all five matches at the CONCACAF Men’s U-17 championship, helping Canada qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup while also scoring a goal against Panama in the semifinals. At the subsequent U-17 World Cup, Bustos appeared in all three of Canada’s matches, starting twice.



Bustos joins Sam Adekugbe, Bryce Alderson, Marco Carducci, Caleb Clarke, Kianz Froese, Ethen Sampson, and Russell Teibert as current Homegrown players on the club’s MLS roster, bringing the club’s total to 11 all-time Homegrown player signings.



Marco Bustos

Position: Midfielder

Height: 5-6

Weight: 150 pounds

Date of Birth: April 22, 1996, in Winnipeg, Manitoba

Hometown: Winnipeg, Manitoba

Citizenship: Canada, Italy

Status: Domestic, Homegrown

Youth Club: FC Northwest

How Acquired: Signed to an MLS pre-contract on Monday, September 15, 2014