TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Loan
The Vancouver Whitecaps re-signed Marco Bustos to a contract extension on Wednesday, then immediately loaned him out to Mexican side Club Atletico Zacatepec.
After spending a month on trial with the Ascenso MX (second division) club, the Canadian international and Winnipeg, Manitoba native now joins Zacatepec on a loan deal set to run through June of 2019, with an option to purchase him permanently at its conclusion. The new contract for the Whitecaps Homegrown product also includes club options for the second half of 2019, as well as the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
“This new opportunity will provide Marco a different challenge competing against quality opponents in Mexico,” said Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson in a club release. “It's a chance for him to continue his growth in a foreign and competitive environment, and we look forward to tracking his progress.”
Bustos, 21, has four starts in 13 appearances across all competitions for Vancouver, having spent long periods on loan to their since-shuttered USL side, Whitecaps FC 2, where he ranks as the all-time scoring leader with 22 goals and five assists in 57 starts and 59 USL appearances, including postseason action.
He currently has six senior international caps for Canada and has also represented his country at the U-17 and U-20 levels.
