Vancouver Whitecaps announce Homegrown signings of Marco Bustos and Kianz Froese

The Vancouver Whitecaps announced Monday the Homegrown player signings of residency attacking midfielders Marco Bustos and Kianz Froese.

The 18-year-olds become the club’s 10^th and 11^th Homegrown signings. Per MLS and club policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.

“There’s a progression here at this club that if you do well in the Residency program then there will be an opportunity to come in to the first team,” Whitecaps head coach Carl Robinson said in a statement. “This is a thoroughly justified reward for these two players after their hard work over the last several years. They will both bring a youthfulness and energy that will be beneficial to the team.”

Bustos (above) signed a pre-contract with Vancouver and will be added to the MLS roster in January. The Winnipeg, Manitoba native made his professional debut with the Whitecaps on May 7, starting and playing 64 minutes in the first leg of the Amway Canadian championship semifinal series against Toronto FC.

• READ: 'Caps rue Blas Perez's early return from international duty after FCD loss

A member of the Residency program since 2011, Bustos won the club award for Most Promising Player following the 2013 season. In his time with the Whitecaps U-18s, he scored 38 goals while starting 52 of his 59 appearances.

Internationally, Bustos has represented Canada at the U-17 level, helping them qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

“It’s an honor to sign my first professional contract with the club that has supported me and shown belief in me throughout my development,” Bustos said.

Froese will be added to the Whitecaps’ active roster immediately and will be eligible to play during the remainder of the 2014 MLS season. He made his first-team debut in the first leg of the Canadian championship semifinal series against TFC.

• Get the latest VWFC news at WhitecapsFC.com

Since joining the Residency program in 2012, Froese has started 40 of his 46 appearances and scored 15 goals for the Whitecaps U-18s. He has also started 10 of his 15 appearances and scored five goals for the U-23s.

Froese was also called into Canada’s senior national team for the first time in September 2013 and again in January. He also started all three matches for Canada at the U-17 World Cup.

Froese, who was born in Havana, Cuba, was also a member of Cuba’s U-17s in 2011.

“Since I was little, I always wanted to be a professional soccer player,” he said. “Today, finally I’m achieving that dream.”