VANCOUVER, BC - Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced on Monday that the club has signed Canadian international defender Marcel de Jong to an 18-month contract with an option.

Marcel de Jong – Whitecaps FC defender/midfielder

Over 250 appearances at the club level in Europe and North America

45 senior international caps for Canada, including the 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cups

Member of Canada’s national team that qualified for the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship

Helped FC Augsburg earn its first promotion to the Bundesliga

"We are very familiar with Marcel, both from playing against him and his years with the national team," said Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson. "He's a good professional who brings additional experience and versatility to our squad."

De Jong has 45 international appearances with the Canadian senior men's national team, scoring three goals and representing Canada at four straight CONCACAF Gold Cups. The 29-year-old has also started each of Canada's last four 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

“I’m excited to join Whitecaps FC," added de Jong. "After seeing the atmosphere at BC Place when the men’s national team hosted Honduras and Mexico, I knew I wanted to be a part of this club. I was teammates with Pa-Modou Kah in Holland, and a number of guys on the national team, so I’m looking forward to playing with them again.”

With 10 years of professional experience, de Jong has collected more than 250 club appearances over his career in Europe and North America.

He joins Whitecaps FC after spending the 2016 NASL spring season with Ottawa Fury FC, playing nine matches across all competitions, including one against Vancouver in the Amway Canadian Championship semifinal.

The left full back, who can also play as a midfielder, has one season of MLS experience under his belt, starting 11 of his 13 appearances with Sporting Kansas City in 2015, where he tallied a goal and an assist.

A dual citizen of Canada and Netherlands, who was born in Newmarket, Ontario, de Jong began his youth career in his Dutch parents' native country with PSV Eindhoven before signing professionally with Helmond Sport in 2004. After two years in the Dutch second division, de Jong joined Roda JC in the top flight Eredivisie in 2006, where played alongside Whitecaps FC centre back Pa-Modou Kah.

Following four seasons with the Miners, de Jong moved to Germany in 2010, where he was a member of the FC Augsburg side that earned a promotion to the Bundesliga for the first time since the team was founded in 1907.

Marcel de Jong

Position: Left full back, midfielder

Height: 5-09

Weight: 165 pounds

Date of Birth: October 15, 1986 in Newmarket, Ontario

Hometown: Valkenswaard, The Netherlands

Citizenship: Canada, The Netherlands

Status: Domestic

Previous Club: Ottawa Fury FC (NASL: '16)

How Acquired: Acquired as a free agent on Monday, July 11, 2016

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