‘Overjoyed by this opportunity to represent my hometown’: Vancouver FC announces first signing in CPL

The Vancouver FC roster is starting to take shape with local flavour.

The Canadian Premier League (CPL) club announced its first signing, inking Vancouver-born free-agent goalkeeper Callum Irving.

“I was very excited about the project that they put forth towards me, the role that they want me to play, and the ambition they have for the club,” the 29-year-old said in a media call Wednesday.

“I’m born and raised in Vancouver, and when you see a club with the name Vancouver FC, I think yourself within it a little bit.”

Vancouver’s #1 is here!
It’s Official.
We’re making history.
Irving is the club’s first EVER signing.

Welcome to the dark side #VancouverFC | #SomethingInTheAir pic.twitter.com/cI1iNtBynE

— Vancouver Football Club (@vanfootballclub) December 14, 2022

Irving began playing with Marpole SC in south Vancouver when he was four years old. From there, he represented the Vancouver Selects and spent six years in the Vancouver Whitecaps academy before heading south of the border to the University of Kentucky.

He began his professional career with the Rio Grande Valley Toros in the United Soccer League and also spent a three-year stint in the Canadian capital, suiting up for the Ottawa Fury.

“I have played across North America and am overjoyed by this opportunity to represent my hometown at the professional level. I look forward to playing my part in introducing the Lower Mainland to the Canadian Premier League and getting to know the community of soccer fans in the area,” Irving added.

Irving has been a mainstay in the CPL for the last three seasons with Victoria-based Pacific FC. He put up 22 career clean sheets with the team that hoisted the championship in 2021.

“It wasn’t an easy decision since I’ve had such a good time over the last three years and made such great friends and close relationships on the island,” Irving admitted. “But I think, when the conversations were had, and everything was laid out on the table, I’m excited about the decision I’ve made and moving forward with Vancouver.”

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Rob Friend, the CEO of Vancouver FC, says the organization is thrilled to build the squad around Irving.

“I am proud to introduce Callum as a Vancouver FC player, both because of his ability on the field as well as his leadership off it,” Friend stated. “As a club, we will strive to both be competitive and play a role within our community. That Callum understands the local soccer community and believes in that mission made him the right person to introduce as our first signing.”

Last month, Afshin Ghotbi was named the team’s first head coach. He calls Irving a “premier shot-stopper.”

“Callum is a proven talent in the league, who understands the demands required of a goalkeeper at this level,” Ghotbi offered. “Callum will provide our club with exactly the kind of stability a new team needs between the posts.”

Vancouver FC will begin play in the CPL next season, with the team based out of Langley at Willoughby Community Park.