The Vancouver Whitecaps have rewarded Scottish star Ryan Gauld with a contract extension through 2027.

The 28-year-old attacking midfielder was going into the final year of his existing contract. A designated player, Gauld was Vancouver鈥檚 highest-paid player last season at US$2.5 million.

Gauld scored 12 goals and had a team-high 17 assists in 42 appearances, including 40 starts, last year as Vancouver made the playoffs for the second time in the past three seasons.

Gauld joined the Whitecaps in July 2021. Since then he has scored 26 goals and added 34 assists in 94 appearances in all competitions.

鈥淪ince joining the club in the summer of 2021, Ryan has been the creative force behind our attack and one of the league鈥檚 best players,鈥� Whitecaps sporting director Axel Schuster said in a statement. 鈥淗e has helped us push forward as a club by making the MLS Cup playoffs twice and winning two Canadian Championships, all while bringing a top level of professionalism to the locker-room every day.鈥�

Gauld was named Whitecaps player of the year in 2022 and 鈥�23 and won the George Gross Memorial Trophy in 2022 as Canadian Championship MVP.

鈥淔rom Day 1, the support in the city has been great. My fianc茅e (Kat) and I have felt welcomed by everyone in and around the club,鈥� said Gauld. 鈥淭o know that I鈥檓 going to be in Vancouver for the next four years is a good feeling. We鈥檝e loved the time we鈥檝e had here and we are looking forward to what鈥檚 to come.鈥�

Gauld, a product of Scotland鈥檚 Dundee United academy, came to Vancouver from Portugal鈥檚 SC Farense. He has also played for Dundee United鈥檚 senior team and Hibernian in Scotland and Sporting CP, V铆toria Set煤bal FC and Deportivo Avesh in Portugal.

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