Vancouver Whitecaps sign defender Mathias Laborda

The Vancouver Whitecaps have signed Uruguayan defender Mathias Laborda as a free transfer using Targeted Allocation Money.

He joins through the 2025 Major League Soccer season, with a club option for 2026 after playing exclusively for Nacional in his home country.

“Mathias is a player we’ve been scouting for over a year,” Vancouver sporting director Axel Schuster said in a release.

Mathias arrives after managing six goals and one assist across 101 games for Nacional, helping the Uruguayan side lift three Primera Division titles and the 2021 Uruguayan Supercopa. 

“He’s a young, intelligent, and tenacious defender. Mathias is comfortable on the ball and brings a mix of experience as well as a potential for growth. We’re happy to welcome Mathías to Vancouver,” added Schuster. 

Laborda stands as the second center back to sign for the Vancouver Whitecaps during the offseason, alongside Karifa Yao, who was acquired through the MLS Re-Entry Draft after leaving CF Montreal.

The two will compete with first-choice defenders Tristan Blackmon and Ranko Veselinovic for a spot on Vanni Sartini’s starting 11.

The team head into the new season after a disappointing 2022 MLS campaign, that saw the Canadian side conclude in ninth place on the Western Conference table with 43 points in 34 games and a record of 12W-15L-7D.

Though the team failed to playoffs, the Whitecaps did manage to qualify for the 2023 Concacaf Champions League after winning the Canadian Championship.