The Vancouver Whitecaps have signed former U.S. under-17 international Danny Barbir to the team's reserve side, Whitecaps FC 2, where he will play for the rest of the current USL season, the club announced on Thursday.
Barbir, 19, spent the last three years with Premier League side West Bromwich Albion in England, but he never made a first-team appearance, playing instead for the club's U21 and U23 sides.
He also appeared for Stoke City's U23 team during the 2016-17 season, as well as one appearance this year, a 4-3 defeat to Newcastle United in which Barbir scored.
That latter appearance came after West Brom had already released Barbir following the 2016-17 campaign.
Barbir moved to England in 2014, signing on with Manchester City's academy, but after one year signed his first professional contract with West Brom.
He has appeared for both the U.S. U17 and U19 teams, including two matches at the 2015 Under-17 World Cup in Chile.
"Danny is a big, strong young center back who has experience in a highly competitive environment in England," said Whitecaps FC 2 coach Rich Fagan. "We'll continue to push him and evaluate him during the final stretch of our USL season."
