The Vancouver Whitecaps went way south of the border on Wednesday with the addition of two Uruguayan attackers, Sebastián Fernández and Nicolás Mezquida.
Both midfielder/forwards will join the 'Caps pending receipt of their International Transfer Certificates, Canadian work permits and visas, the club announced. Fernández joins the Whitecaps on a one-year loan with a transfer option, while Mezquida was acquired via transfer, both from Uruguayan side Boston River. Per Major League Soccer and club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.
“Sebastián and Nicolás are exciting young attacking players with a lot of potential,” Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson said in a statement. “Both players like to play with the ball on the ground and are not afraid to attack defenders one-on-one with pace.”
Fernández, 24, joins Vancouver after spending the majority of his professional career in South America. Before coming to MLS, the 5-foot-7, 165-pound midfielder/striker captured the 2013 Peruvian Primera División championship with Universitario de Deportes, while he was on loan from Liga MX side Chiapas FC. The Montevideo, Uruguay, native made 26 appearances and recorded five goals for Universitario, with two of those markers coming in the playoffs.
During the 2012-13 season, Fernández scored two goals in 13 appearances with San Luis FC. The Uruguayan began his professional career in his native country playing the 2011-12 season with Uruguayan Primera División side Danubio Fútbol Club before five seasons, 2007 to 2012, with Club Sportivo Miramar Misiones.
Mezquida, 22, arrives in Vancouver having last been a member of Uruguayan Primera División side Centro Atlético Fénix. The 5-foot-6, 150-pound midfielder/striker joined Fénix on March 15, 2012, and played parts of two seasons with the club from Montevideo, Uruguay. During that time, Mezquida was loaned to Uruguay’s second tier side Rampla Juniors Fútbal Club, where he scored seven goals in 24 appearances.
The native of Paysandú, Uruguay, began his career with the Club Atlético Peñarol youth academy in 2006 before earning a first team contract in 2008. During his time with Peñarol, Mezquida had two loan spells in 2011 with Norwegian clubs SK Brann and Lillestrøm SK.
At the international level, Mezquida made three appearances in the 2009 U-17 World Cup recording one goal for Uruguay’s U-17 national team.
