Vancouver Whitecaps sign Damir Kreilach to two-year contract
- Kreilach signs for Vancouver as a free agent
- He recently parted ways with Real Salt Lake
- 34-year-old boasted 56 goals during his time with RSL
Vancouver Whitecaps have signed free agent midfielder Damir Kreilach to a two-year contract through the 2025 MLS season.
Kreilach, who can play as both a forward or attacking midfielder, joins the Whitecaps after spending six seasons with Real Salt Lake from February 2018 to December 2023, where he went on to become the third-highest goal-scorer in the club's history with 56 goals. RSL and Kreilach agreed to part ways earlier this week, with the club declining to pick up his contract option for the 2024 season.
The former Croatia youth international joins a Vancouver side that finished sixth in the Western Conference table in 2023 with 48 points and returned to MLS Cup playoffs after missing out in 2022. Vancouver bowed out of the first round to MLS Cup runners-up LAFC after being swept in the first round, which brought us an unforgettable moment in stoppage time with Whitecaps boss Vanni Sartini.
"We are very pleased to welcome Damir and his family to our club and city. Everybody in MLS knows what Damir brings to the table. He is an experienced player, a competitor, and a leader," Whitecaps sporting director Axel Schuster said in a release.
"In our conversations with Damir, we could feel his hunger for another opportunity where he can bring his best skills and compete for some big goals. He is driven to help bring success to Vancouver."
Before his time with RSL, Kreilach spent five seasons in the 2. Bundesliga with Union Berlin, where he registered 33 goals and 17 assists in 157 appearances. Kreilach's professional career started out in his native Croatia with Rijeka in the Croatian Football League, as he totaled 18 goals and three assists in 119 appearances before making the switch to German soccer in July 2013.
"I'm very happy and excited to take on this new challenge and be a part of Vancouver Whitecaps FC," said Kreilach.
"There is a lot of work ahead and I couldn't be more grateful for the opportunity. I'm looking forward to meeting my new teammates, coaches, staff and all the supporters. I can't wait to get started!"
READ THE LATEST MLS NEWS, QUOTES & TRANSFER RUMOURS HERE
feed