Whitecaps FC Sign WFC2 Midfielder Jay Herdman to Second MLS Short-Term Agreement

March 1, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Vancouver Whitecaps FC News Release

VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced on Friday that the club has signed Whitecaps FC 2 (WFC2) midfielder Jay Herdman to an MLS short-term agreement for Saturday’s MLS regular season home opener, presented by TELUS, against Charlotte FC.

This marks the second time Herdman has been signed to an MLS short-term agreement. The midfielder signed his first short-term agreement last month for the club’s Concacaf Champions Cup Round One first leg against Tigres UANL and was an unused substitute.

Whitecaps FC midfielder Jay Herdman

Participated in Whitecaps FC preseason in Marbella, Spain and Coachella Valley, California

Three goals, three assists in 14 starts and 26 appearances for WFC2 in MLS NEXT Pro

Started three matches for New Zealand at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup, scoring once

Herdman, 19, signed a new contract with WFC2 through 2024 this past November. The New Zealand youth international tallied one goal and two assists in five starts and eight appearances during the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro regular season before his season was cut short due to a knee injury.

In 2022, Herdman started nine of his 18 appearances in MLS NEXT Pro, tallying two goals as well as an assist.

Herdman originally entered the Whitecaps FC BMO MLS Academy as a 13-year-old in 2017 from Surrey United SC in the EA SPORTS BC Soccer Premier League.

Internationally, Herdman has represented New Zealand 14 times across the U-19, U-20, and U-23 sides. Most recently, the midfielder was part of New Zealand’s squad at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He started three of the Kiwis’ four matches at the tournament, scoring a goal of the tournament contender against Uzbekistan.

Whitecaps FC MLS short-term agreements:

Emiliano Brienza at Columbus Crew (February 26, 2022)

Ali Ahmed at Austin FC (April 23, 2022)

Vasco Fry at Austin FC (April 23, 2022)

Max Anchor at Charlotte FC (May 22, 2022)

Chris Lee vs. Minnesota United FC (July 8, 2022)

Chris Lee at FC Cincinnati (July 13, 2022)

Ali Ahmed vs. Houston Dynamo FC (August 5, 2022)

Simon Becher vs. Houston Dynamo FC (August 5, 2022)

Easton Ongaro at LA Galaxy (August 13, 2022)

Simon Becher at Colorado Rapids (September 10, 2022)

Vasco Fry at Real C.D. España (March 15, 2023) & at LA Galaxy (March 18, 2023)

Levonte Johnson at Real C.D. España (March 15, 2023) & at LA Galaxy (March 18, 2023)

Vasco Fry at Minnesota United FC (March 25, 2023)

Levonte Johnson at York United FC (May 10,…