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David Edgar has long wanted to finish his career in North America, even if he could hardly have envisioned the growth of MLS when he left Kitchener, Ont., for Newcastle United’s academy at 14.

“It’s always been in my head to come back,” Edgar, the out-of-contract Canadian international defender and potential Whitecaps’ target, said by phone from Toronto.

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“That was always the hope.

“I was around for Toronto FC’s inaugural year (2007), when I came back for the summer break, and seeing it evolve has been amazing.

“In England, we now get two games on a Saturday live and two games on a Sunday live. It’s growing globally, and it’s only going to get bigger. And I tell the English boys that it’s no walk in the park. It’s a good quality league now.”

Edgar, a 29-year-old centre-back/fullback who can also do a job in defensive midfield, was released by Championship club Birmingham City after the 2015-16 season. He’d spent the better part of two seasons on loan to Huddersfield Town and, most recently, Sheffield United in League One.