By Canadian Press

After joining Cavalry FC on loan, Jay Herdman makes move to CPL champion permanent

Jan 14, 2025 | 1:56 PM

Jay Herdman, who joined Cavalry FC last season on loan from the Vancouver Whitecaps’ MLS Next Pro side, has made his move to the Canadian Premier League champions permanent.

The signing comes after Whitecaps 2 declined the 2025 contract option on the 20-year-old New Zealand youth international midfielder, who is the son of former Canada and Toronto FC coach John Herdman

Herdman made eight appearances for Cavalry after arriving in September, scoring one goal and adding an assist.

“Jay was an important addition to our run-in last season and made an instant impact,” Cavalry coach and GM Tommy Wheeldon Jr. said in a statement. “He is a player that is very shifty and able to find or create space, as well as possesses a terrific competitive edge that suits our DNA.”

Prior to switching to the CPL, Herdman made 20 appearances for Whitecaps FC 2 in 2024 with six goals and three assists. He made his MLS debut for the Whitecaps in April, coming on as a substitute against Seattle.

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Herdman joined the Whitecaps FC residency program in August 2017 after previously playing with Surrey United SC.

Born in New Zealand while his father was coaching there prior to coming to Canada, Herdman has made three appearances for New Zealand U-23 side and was part of the All-Whites side at last summer’s Paris Olympic Games.

Cavalry opens CONCACAF Champions Cup Feb. 6 against Mexico’s Pumas UNAM in Langford, B.C.

In other CPL news, Canadian defender Rocco Romeo has rejoined Valour FC on a one-year contract with an option for 2026.

The 24-year-old from Toronto first joined the Winnipeg club in 2021 on loan from Toronto FC, returning to Valour for a second season in 2022. The six-foot-four centre back spent the last two seasons with Vancouver FC, scoring two goals in 23 appearances.

“Rocco is one of ours,” Valour coach and GM Phil Dos Santos said in a statement. “We love his passion and commitment to the game. Even if he’s still a young player, he has a lot of CPL matches played.

“He adds experience and quality to our backline. We know what he’s all about. He’s a competitor, good in the air, loves to defend and can also execute with the ball.”

Pacific FC, as part of its partnership with Germany’s VfL Bochum 1848, has four players training with the Bundesliga club over the next two weeks,

Christian Greco-Taylor, a 19-year-old defender, will be joined in Bochum by 16-year-old academy players Will Edgson, Mattias Hallam and Mattias Vales in training with Bochum’s U-21 side.

It marks the first time Pacific players have travelled to train within Bochum as part of a partnership announced in May.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 14, 2025

The Canadian Press