Vancouver Whitecaps sell dynamic midfielder Pedro Vite to LIGA MX side Pumas UNAM
The club announced Friday that 23-year-old midfielder Pedro Vite has been transferred to LIGA MX side Pumas UNAM.
Terms of the deal were not released, but Whitecaps sporting director Axel Schuster said in a statement that the club will invest the transfer fee to 'strengthen our roster, for both immediate impact and long-term success' and Vancouver will receive a percentage of any future transfer fees.
'Pedro arrived in Vancouver at 19, living outside of Ecuador for the first time. Year after year, he continued to progress, and this season he's emerged as one of the top midfielders in MLS and a key contributor to his national team,' Schuster said.
'We explored several options with Pedro and, ultimately, we respect his decision. We're grateful for everything he brought to the club and wish him all the best in the next chapter of his career.'
Vite joined the Whitecaps in October 2021 from Ecuadorian first division side Independiente Del Valle.
During his time in Vancouver, he tallied 15 goals and 20 assists in 140 appearances, including five goals and a team-leading six assists across all competitions this year. Last month, he helped Ecuador's national squad qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
Vite has been an important part of the Whitecaps this season, midfielder Sebastian Berhalter said Friday.
'He's honestly been amazing,' he said. 'One of the first moments I played with him, I realized, 'Wow, this kid is special.' He wasn't getting the game time, but you could see just his touch and technique on the ball was something I hadn't really played with before.'
The move means the 'Caps (12-5-5) will have a hole in their lineup Saturday when they take on San Diego FC (13-7-3) in California.
'(Vite's) a guy who can make very difficult things look very easy and I think that he has had a great season so far,' said Jesper Sorensen, Vancouver's head coach.
'Of course we will miss him. We will always miss a good player and a good guy as well. But on the other hand, this is the name of the game and this is how football works. And we will be ready to fill out the spot that he leaves.'
Saturday's match will be a battle for best of the West, with expansion side San Diego currently sitting one point ahead of Vancouver and in the No. 1 spot in the MLS Western Conference standings.
The stakes were similar back on June 25 when San Diego came to Vancouver for the first-ever matchup between the two sides. The new franchise waltzed away with a 5-3 victory.
Milan Iloski scored four goals for the visitors that night, but won't be in the lineup on Saturday. The midfielder left San Diego earlier this week to rejoin Danish Superliga side FC Nordjaelland.
Sorensen, for one, isn't disappointed to see Iloski go.
'He was pretty hard on us last time. I'm happy he's not there today,' the coach said with a laugh.
'No matter who (San Diego) play, they all play the same way. Of course it's not the same player they have but they have good players around and they'll also find a replacement that will make things difficult for us.'
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (12-5-5) AT SAN DIEGO FC (13-7-3)
Saturday, Snapdragon Stadium
POTENT OFENCE: San Diego continues to be an offensive juggernaut, leading the league in both goals (46) and assists (55). The team is also second in passes completed (13,731).
QUEST FOR 100: Striker Brian White scored his 99th career goal on Wednesday. He leads the 'Caps in scoring this season with 16 goals across all competitions.
KEEP IT CLEAN: Vancouver 'keeper Yohei Takaoka leads the league with 10 clean sheets after backstopping the Whitecaps to a 3-0 victory over the Dynamo.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 18, 2025.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
2 hours ago
- New York Times
NBA Summer League is ‘extremely valuable' for scouts. Here's what they look for
The rosters are random. The stats are messy. Half the players won't be on an NBA team come October. However, for scouts sitting courtside in Las Vegas, these games are as good as gold. NBA Summer League isn't about box scores — it's a live evaluation ground where scouts search for translatable skills, development potential and hidden value beyond the surface stats. Advertisement Some fans treat summer-league performances as little more than playful sparring, while others see them as definitive statements about a player's future. However, in reality, how important is it? Do the stats, wins and individual performances matter? For NBA scouts, the summer league is far from meaningless. It's one of the most critical evaluation periods outside of the regular season. While box scores don't tell the whole story, the games offer real insight into player development, coachability, and potential fit, not just with their current team, but for the 29 others watching courtside. The Athletic interviewed several scouts, granting them anonymity to allow them to speak freely about their evaluation process. 'It's extremely valuable. Before the draft, no matter what your opinion is about a player or how analytics project him to be, it's always interesting to see how competitive they are once they get to summer league,' said one scout for a Western Conference team. 'How quickly they pick up terminology, are they culture fits and can they keep the main thing the main thing? Can they be attentive, on time and professional, especially with all the distractions in Vegas?' A poor summer performance doesn't necessarily mean a player won't turn into a quality NBA player. Jalen Brunson (7.1 points per game on 38.3 shooting), Derrick Rose (9.5 points and 4.5 turnovers per game, shooting 29.4 percent) and Nikola Jokić (8.0 points in five games) didn't wow fans or scouts right away. Summer league stats can be inflated or misleading, but scouts don't completely ignore the numbers. Efficiency, decision-making, rebounding effort, assist-to-turnover ratio, and defensive metrics are all evaluated in context, especially when paired with film and in-person observation. 'All stats matter,' one scout said. 'This is the last professional setting until training camp starts. Everything is relevant.' Advertisement An Eastern Conference scout said specific statistics validate the eye test. 'Plus/minus is considered in context to gauge overall impact,' he said. 'More than the totals, scouts focus on how these stats are generated and whether they align with winning habits. The stats should validate what you're watching and seeing a real time.' Scouts aren't just watching to see who puts up 20 points. They're studying how players react to coaching, how they communicate on the floor and whether their skill sets translate to defined NBA roles. For rookies, it's often the first time they're judged on more than just potential. 'You want to see how quickly they can adjust to the pro game — not just physically, but mentally,' another evaluator shared. 'It's not just about buckets. It's about focus, learning systems and doing the little things right.' Summer League also serves as a checkpoint for returning players on two-way deals or fighting for a roster spot. 'Developmental progression in your older players — they've usually attended summer league the year prior, so they aren't overwhelmed by the spectacle,' one scout explained. 'You're looking for leadership, consistency and execution out of those guys.' The margin between a fringe player and a playoff contributor has never been thinner, especially in the new CBA era, where teams must extract value from two-way contracts and minimum deals. The summer league has become a talent marketplace where every team is scouting not just their bench, but everyone else's. 'The new CBA deal has made it even more crucial to try and find potential fits from a bottom-up perspective,' one scout said. 'Open roster spots and two-ways could end up playing deep in the playoffs. Look at someone like Pat Spencer for the Warriors — people were like, 'Who's that and where did he come from?' And he's playing in the semifinals. Every team is there scouting every other team's roster with the hope of finding that diamond in the rough.' Advertisement One scout emphasized the importance of keeping an open mind at summer league, while another noted the need to 'watch the game within the game.' '(There is) no blank canvas because you've already seen 90 percent of these guys in college,' he said. 'You come in with your biases good or bad, but the key is to be open-minded to how they can help you.' Scouts work year-round, so it's challenging to find a hidden gem. If they find such a player, they may need to sweeten the deal to sign him before another team secures his services. Only around two or three players from every summer league team will make an NBA roster. The remaining guys sign two-way or Exhibit 10 (one-year, non-guaranteed minimum contracts) deals, play overseas or remain free agents. 'It's hard to spot someone that no one else sees, because every team has scouts at every game for that reason,' a scout explained. 'If a team gets credit for discovering a player, usually that means they offered a better deal (e.g., two-way with incentives) than the other six or seven teams that were interested in that player. 'This is like being in a petri dish. Every scouting department sees every player. The best you can do is find players who are two-way worthy.' (Photo of Dylan Harper and Cooper Flagg: Ryan Stetz / Getty Images)
Fox Sports
2 hours ago
- Fox Sports
Newcastle United legend Nolberto Solano named as Pakistan coach
Associated Press ISLAMABAD (AP) — Newcastle United legend Nolberto Solano has been appointed as head coach of Pakistan's senior and under-23 teams. Solano will take over from Stephen Constantine and his first major assignment will be the AFC Under-23 qualifiers in September where Pakistan is grouped with Cambodia, Iraq and Oman. He will also be in charge for the remainder of Pakistan's 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifying campaign, including a double-header against Afghanistan in October. Solano's appointment is the first major signing by the newly-elected Pakistan Football Federation with Mohsen Gilani as its president. 'Under President Mohsen Gilani's leadership, PFF proudly welcomes Nolberto Solano as Head Coach of Pakistan U23 with a pathway to the senior team!,' the PFF wrote on X while welcoming the former Peru winger. 'A true legend with EPL, World Cup & Copa América pedigree it's a new era for Pakistan football.' Solano was the assistant coach of Peru when his country qualified for the FIFA World Cup in 2018 in Russia after 36 years. He left the national team in 2022 when Peru failed to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar after it was beaten by Australia in an inter-continental playoff. Constantine led Pakistan to its first ever victory in a World Cup qualifier in Oct. 2023 and had been coaching the team on game-to-game basis after his one-year contract expired in November last year. ___ AP soccer: in this topic
Time Business News
3 hours ago
- Time Business News
The Beautiful Game, Without the Price Tag
Let's be honest — supporting your favourite football team is getting expensive. Between subscriptions, match tickets, and club merch, your wallet takes a hit long before the first whistle blows. And when it comes to jerseys? €90 to €120 for a shirt? Come on. That's exactly why we started We're football fans who were tired of overpriced kits, slow delivery, and dodgy websites. So we built our own — a place where anyone can get top-quality football jerseys at proper prices. No fluff, no gimmicks, just the shirts you love at prices that make sense. At most of our jerseys fall between €30 and €45 — and they look and feel just as good as the overpriced ones in the big-brand shops. Whether you're wearing it to five-a-side, down the pub, or just lounging around, our shirts are made to look sharp and last long. You don't need a €100 shirt to be a proper fan. You just need a badge on your chest and a bit of pride — we'll sort the rest. We know the difference between a decent shirt and one that falls apart after two washes. That's why we only stock jerseys that meet three simple standards: We've got fresh home and away kits, retro throwbacks, and rare finds you won't see in the usual places. Whether you're after the latest drop or something a little more old-school, you'll find it here. Our jerseys are lightweight, breathable, and built for real life — whether you're on the pitch, in the stands, or stuck at work pretending you're not checking the score. No one wants a jersey that fades after a few washes. Ours hold up — proper stitching, strong fabric, and no weird fits. From Premier League icons to Champions League giants, international powerhouses to cult classics, we stock kits from all over the footballing world. Think: • Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, City • PSG, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern • Argentina, Brazil, Portugal, France • Retro World Cup styles and alt kits you rarely see Looking for a Haaland shirt? Want a retro Zidane top? Can't find your club's third kit anywhere? Drop us a message — we'll try source it for you. We're not some faceless online store selling jerseys like they're souvenirs. We're fans — just like you. We know how it feels to put on a new shirt before a big match. We know how much pride is in a name and number on the back. We know why it matters. That's why we keep prices fair, delivery fast, and service personal. We're not selling hype. We're selling jerseys for the real football community — the diehards, the loyal, the ones who care. You can personalise most of our jerseys with: • Your name or favourite player's • Squad numbers or your lucky number • Shirt printing for groups, teams, or events Great for matchdays, birthdays, stag dos, Sunday league squads, or just flexing your own name on the back. We also offer bulk discounts for teams, schools, and clubs that want to kit out the crew without rinsing the budget. You won't be waiting weeks for your jersey to show up from the other side of the world. We ship fast, with most orders landing within 10–15 days. And if anything's off? We're here. Actual people — not bots or endless forms. Fast replies, easy returns, zero stress. EIREJERSEYS shirts have been worn: • At five-a-side games on freezing weeknights • In packed pubs for last-minute winners • On group holidays, stag parties, and gigs • At Sunday league finals and pre-drinks • And every other place where football fans live their lives Because let's be honest — football jerseys aren't just for game day. They're everyday style for people who eat, sleep, and breathe the game. Football is about passion, not price tags. You don't need to spend a fortune to show love for your team. All you need is a shirt that feels right — and a bit of pride when you wear it. That's what we're here for. So if you're done overpaying for kits, tired of dodgy websites, and just want decent football shirts at a fair price, you're in the right place. — no hype, just proper jerseys for real fans. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
