East Vancouver native Ben Fisk has signed with Vancouver FC.
Announced on Tuesday, Jan. 9. the deal for Fisk, 30, is the first new signing of Vancouver FC’s 2024 off-season. It includes a one-year club option for the 2026 season.
It marks the culmination of a previous transaction between Vancouver and Cavalry FC in December 2023, which saw the Langley-based pro soccer team send the tenth overall pick in the 2024 CPL-U SPORTS draft to Cavalry in exchange for the 15th overall draft pick and future considerations.
“It’s really exciting to join Vancouver FC and represent my hometown, particularly at this stage in my career,” said Fisk, who played against Vancouver FC as a player with Calgary Cavalry.
GOAL 🐎🐎🐎🐎
— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) July 23, 2023
Ben Fisk makes it 4-1 for @CPLCavalryFC vs. @VanFootballClub as he heads home with a light flick-on, and this contest might just be over as Cavalry looks to book top spot in the table ☝️
🔴 Watch #CanPL on OneSoccer pic.twitter.com/7AWgEGt0hy
“After travelling the world to play football, I know what a luxury it is to be able to do what I love with friends and family watching from the stands. I can’t wait to get started.”
Fisk was six years old when he first stepped onto a field in Vancouver, suiting up for East Vancouver’s historic Grandview Legion Football Club.
His youth career included stints with the Italian Canadian Sports Federation, the Marpole Soccer Club and the Vancouver Selects before he was recruited into the Vancouver Whitecaps’ residency program at the age of 16, eventually representing the club’s under-23 side on 27 occasions, scoring eight goals, and earning a call-up to the senior team’s pre-season camp in 2014.
Fisk continued his professional career abroad, representing Coruxo FC in Spain’s Segunda División B in 2014 and Deportivo La Coruña B in the Tercera División in 2015. He would later win a League of Ireland Cup title with Derry City FC of Ireland Premier Division (LIPD), where he signed in 2018.
Closer to home, Fisk previously represented FC Edmonton in the North American Soccer League and Pacific FC, Atlético Ottawa and 2023 regular season winner Cavalry in the Canadian Premier League. In signing with Vancouver, Fisk became the first player to suit up for four different CPL clubs.
READ ALSO: Vancouver FC 2024 roster takes shape
“Ben embodies all the qualities we are looking for to improve our selection for 2024,” said Afshin Ghotbi, Head Coach, Vancouver FC. “He is connected to the community, has a long history and proven success in the CPL, possesses qualities to make players better around him, and he is a natural leader making Ben an important signing this season.”
Vancouver FC current roster:
Goalkeeper: Callum Irving
Defenders: Kadin Chung, Rocco Romeo, Ibrahim Bakare, Tyler Crawford, Anthony White, James Cameron
Midfielders: Elliot Simmons, Ben Fisk
Forwards: Alejandro ‘Wero’ Díaz, Mouhamadou ‘Mamadou’ Kane, Gabriel Bitar, Taryck ‘TJ’ Tahid
READ ALSO: VFC: Langley sports story of the year
