As the team heads into the offseason, Vancouver FC has confirmed the departure of four players following its inaugural season that ended in seventh place.
Seven players had also been released by the expansion side earlier in the first campaign.
Afshin Ghotbi is already working hard to complete his squad preparations for the 2024 Vancouver FC, as the club has officially confirmed the release of goalkeeper Jeremy Zielinski, midfielder Nicky Gyimah, and attackers Shaan Hundal and Nathaniel St. Louis.
Although Hundal’s resignation has been known since October, the club finally officially announced it this week. With six goals and one assist in 29 games, the striker was a key member of the team in its inaugural season and had scored the team’s first goal.
Hundal had a scorching start to the season, scoring five goals in the first nine games. Before Alejandro Diaz, a Mexican striker, joined the team on loan on July 11, Hundal scored his sixth and final goal. After that, he was often substituted out on the right wing with fewer playing time, and the team never scored again.
Talks are currently underway with a number of clubs, not all of whom are in the CPL, so it’s unclear where Hundal will end up.
Moving forward Inking a contract after four seasons of NCAA play split between Syracuse University and the University of Alabama Birmingham, Nathaniel St. Louis made history as the first player to sign with Vancouver FC through the university circuit. Prior to that, he developed through one of Canada’s largest soccer powerhouses, the Vaughan Soccer Club.
In his debut season of professional football, the 22-year-old made five appearances off the bench for a total of 80 minutes, but he was never able to crack the starting eleven for the team.
Similar struggles were experienced by midfielder Nicky Gyimah, who joined the expansion team from National
League South club Slough Town. The former Sunderland U-23 prospect began with eight straight games under Ghotbi before losing favor. The 20-year-old Englishman had been absent from the matchday roster since August, and it had been apparent for some time that he would be leaving.
With 12 appearances and 251 minutes of play in Canada’s top flight, Gyimah is leaving and is probably going to return to the English lower divisions.
