VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced on Saturday that the club has acquired midfielder/forward Brek Shea from Orlando City SC in exchange for midfielder/forward Giles Barnes.



Shea will officially join the club's roster pending receipt of his international transfer certificate, Canadian work permit and visa.



WHITECAPS FC MIDFIELDER/FORWARD BREK SHEA

Scored 22 goals and added 22 assists in 149 MLS appearances with FC Dallas and Orlando City SC

Named to MLS All-Star team and MLS Best XI in 2011; finalist for the 2011 MLS MVP award

Played two seasons in England with Stoke City FC, which included loan spells with Birmingham City FC and Barnsley FC

Scored four goals in 34 senior caps with the United States

To kick off the new year, Whitecaps FC will host a Week of Whitecaps featuring several community events to celebrate the start of the 2017 season. The Week of Whitecaps highlights include a player visit to BC Children’s Hospital on Tuesday, CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal second leg against New York Red Bulls on Thursday, and will conclude with the team’s MLS home opener against Philadelphia Union on Sunday, March 5. Tickets for both matches at BC Place are available at whitecapsfc.com/tickets.



"We are excited to welcome Brek to our club and city," said Whitecaps FC manager Carl Robinson. "Brek is a tall, physical, skilled player and will bring a different dimension to our attack. Brek will join the group in coming days and we anticipate he will be available for selection as early as this Thursday's Champions League match against New York.”



Shea, who turns 27 on Tuesday, arrives in Vancouver having played the last two seasons with Eastern Conference side Orlando City SC. Last year, the 6-foot-3 midfielder/forward, who also spent time at left back, started 22 of 27 matches, scored three goals and added two assists. During his two seasons with the Lions, he started 39 of 46 matches contributing offensively with three goals and six assists.



Prior to joining Orlando, Shea was with English Premier League side Stoke City for two seasons. As a member of the Potters, Shea spent time on loan with Championship clubs Birmingham City FC during the 2014-15 season and Barnsley FC during the 2013-14 season.



Before his move overseas, Shea started his professional career with his home-state team FC Dallas, after being drafted second overall by the club in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft.



During his five seasons in the Lone Star State, the native of College Station, Texas started 78 of 98 regular season matches, scored 19 goals, and added 14 assists. Shea also made five appearances in MLS Cup Playoffs, adding two assists. During the 2011 season, Shea was named to the MLS All-Star team, MLS Best XI, and a finalist for the 2011 MLS MVP award after he scored 11 goals and added four assists in 31 games.



In international play, Shea has represented the United States 34 times and scored four goals with the senior national team. He was a member of 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup team and scored the winning goal in the final against Panama. He has also represented the United States at the U-23, U-20, and U-17 levels.



Barnes, 28, made eight starts in 11 appearances, including a second half appearance in last Wednesday’s CONCACAF Championship quarterfinal draw at New York Red Bulls, for Whitecaps FC. The native of London, England, arrived in Vancouver via trade with Houston Dynamo for general allocation money and right of first refusal to defender Keyner Brown last July.



“We are thankful to Giles for the contribution he made during his time at the club and we wish him all the best in Orlando,” added Robinson.



TRANSACTION: Vancouver Whitecaps FC acquire midfielder/forward Brek Shea from Orlando City SC in exchange for midfielder/forward Giles Barnes on February 25, 2017.



Brek Shea

Position: Midfielder/Forward

Height: 6-03

Weight: 195 pounds

Date of Birth: February 28, 1990 in Bryan, Texas

Hometown: Bryan, Texas

Citizenship: United States

Status: Domestic

Previous Club: Orlando City SC (MLS: 2015-2016)

How Acquired: Acquired from Orlando City SC in exchange for midfielder/forward Giles Barnes on February 25, 2017