Comox Valley-based midfielder Liam Mackenzie has been signed to the Vancouver Whitecaps FC for an MLS short-term agreement.
The Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced on Wednesday that the club has signed Whitecaps FC 2 (WFC2) midfielder Mackenzie to an MLS short-term agreement for Wednesday’s Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 match versus CF Monterrey, as well as Saturday’s MLS match at FC Dallas.
This marks the first time this season that Mackenzie has been signed to an MLS short-term agreement, and his second overall after appearing in the July 27, 2024 international friendly versus Wrexham AFC at BC Place.
Mackenzie, who will turn 18 on March 15, enjoyed a productive preseason with Whitecaps FC in Marbella, Spain. In addition, this past weekend, he recorded a goal, two assists, as well as a successful kick from the spot in the three-goal comeback shootout victory for WFC2 in their MLS NEXT Pro season opener at LAFC2.
During the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro season, Mackenzie started 14 of his 22 appearances, recording one goal and one assist as WFC2 made the playoffs for the first time.
The product of Comox, originally made his professional debut during the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro regular season campaign as an academy call-up, coming on as a substitute against St. Louis CITY SC on September 9, 2023. Mackenzie signed his first professional contract with WFC2 on April 9, 2024.
Coming through the Whitecaps FC BMO Academy, Mackenzie was selected to the 2024 MLS NEXT All-Star Game in Columbus, Ohio, where he registered an assist on the opening goal of the match. Mackenzie first joined the Whitecaps FC BMO Academy as a 13-year-old in August 2020 after playing with Vancouver Island Wave in the EA SPORTS BC Soccer Premier League. During his time with the academy, the youngster captained both the U-15 and U-17 sides. He’s also been a recipient of several Whitecaps FC BMO Academy awards, including the 2022 U-15 Player of the Year award and Academy Best XI, and the 2023 U-17 Student Athlete award and Cornerstone award.
On the international stage, Mackenzie has represented Canada at the U-17 level, playing a year up when he began competing with the side. The midfielder started three of his five appearances at the 2023 Concacaf U-17 Championship, adding a goal and an assist as the team reached the semifinals of the tournament. Mackenzie was also an alternate for Canada at the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Indonesia.
