Veteran midfielder Nicol谩s Mezquida has returned to the Lower Mainland to play for Vancouver FC.
Mezquida, 33, a familiar name to local soccer fans, joins the 91原创-based club on a one-year guaranteed contract, with an option for 2026.
He was introduced to VFC fans at halftime of the club鈥檚 opening match of the 2025 Canadian Premier League (CPL) season on Sunday, April 6 at Willoughby Community Park.
A VFC press release described Mezquida as a "creative and dynamic midfielder known for playing with flair [who] brings significant experience and leadership to the Eagles鈥� roster."
Mezquida spent the early days of his near 17-year senior career in his native Uruguay before he landed with the Vancouver Whitecaps in February 2014. He went on to make 122 appearances in all competitions for Vancouver鈥檚 Major League Soccer (MLS) side, scoring 17 goals and adding seven assists over five seasons.
He was part of the Whitecaps team that lifted the Voyagers Cup as winners of the Canadian Championship in 2015.
Mezquida was traded to the Colorado Rapids in December 2018 and went on to make 84 appearances for the MLS side between 2019 and June 2022, scoring eight goals and adding five assists. He has since competed in Greece with Volos Football Club, with Uruguay鈥檚 Club Deportivo Maldonado, with Cypriot club Ethnikos Achna and, most recently, with Uruguay鈥檚 Rampla Juniors.
Vancouver will take to the road for the first time this season as they travel to Calgary to take on CPL champs Cavalry FC on Friday, April 18 at 4 p.m.
Their next home game will see the Eagles host Pacific FC at Willoughby Community Park on Saturday, April 26 at 5 p.m.
Vancouver FC 2025 Roster as of April 7, 2025:
Goalkeepers: Callum Irving, Felipe Jamarillo Drolet
Defenders: Thierno Bah, Joey Buchanan, Matteo Campagna, Kunle Dada-Luke, Allan Enyou, Paris Gee, David Norman Jr., Ndiaye Pathe
Midfielders: Juan Bautista, Michel Cavalcante, Tyler Crawford, Mehdi Essoussi, Vasco Fry, Emrick Fotsing, Henri Godbout, Dominic Joseph, Nicol谩s Mezquida, Abdoulaye Ouattara, Kevin Podgorni, Thomas Powell, TJ Tahid
Forwards: Terran Campbell, Mika毛l Cantave, Alejandro D矛az, Jos茅 Navarro
