VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC selected Generation adidas midfielder Ryan Raposo from Syracuse University in the first round (fourth overall) of the 2020 MLS SuperDraft on Thursday.

“I’m really excited," Raposo told reporters. "Vancouver is the place I wanted to end up and I got my wish. I’m happy to be staying here in Canada and help to grow the game here. Not only in Hamilton, not only in Ontario, but now all over the nation.”



Midfielder Ryan Raposo

19 goals and 14 assists in 36 starts and 38 appearances in his two seasons at Syracuse University

All-ACC First Team selection as sophomore in 2019, All-ACC Freshman team in 2018

Canada U-15 national team camp participant in 2014, Canada Games tournament MVP in 2017

Raposo, 20, made 36 starts in 38 total appearances at Syracuse, collecting 19 goals and 14 assists in only two seasons. He was selected to the All-ACC First Team last year after setting a school record for goals scored by a sophomore with 15. In 2018, the 5-foot-7 midfielder led his team with seven assists, leading to an All-ACC Freshman team recognition.

Born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario, Raposo has featured for Canada at the youth level, participating at U-15 camps in 2014. He captained his provincial team to a gold medal finish at the 2017 Canada Games, bagging tournament MVP honours in the process.

Capable of lining up as a winger or as an attacking midfielder, Raposo has spent training stints with German clubs TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, 1. FSV Mainz 05, and SV Sandhausen.

In his youth, Raposo developed at Toronto FC Academy, Burlington Youth Soccer Club, and Vaughan SC.

Raposo is signed to a Generation adidas contract, a joint program between MLS and adidas which sees a selection of top collegiate underclassmen and youth national team players signed and made available in the SuperDraft. GA contracts do not count against the salary budget.



Ryan Raposo

Position: Midfielder

Height: 5-07

Weight: 145 pounds

Date of Birth: March 5, 1999 in Hamilton, Ontario

Hometown: Hamilton, Ontario

Citizenship: Canada, Portugal

Status: Domestic

University: Syracuse University (NCAA ’18 to ’19)

Youth: Toronto FC Academy, Burlington Youth Soccer Club, Vaughan SC

Transaction: Signed a Generation adidas contract on December 30, 2019, selected fourth overall in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft by Whitecaps FC on January 9, 2020