The Canadian Premier League’s Vancouver FC is selling a Surrey-born soccer phenom to Europe for a staggering mountain of cash.
A deal selling 16-year-old Grady McDonnell to Club NXT, the second team for top Belgian side Club Brugge, for $516,307 plus incentives is being finalized per transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
Club Brugge is one of the most storied teams in Belgium, having been established in 1891. They made it to the finals of the 1978 European Cup, now known as the UEFA Champions League, which is one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world.
McDonnell is the youngest player to ever sign a professional contract in the CPL, agreeing to the deal before his 16th birthday. He made 17 appearances for Vancouver FC last season, finishing without a goal but picking up two assists and being named to the Team of the Week in week 15.
The midfielder has primarily represented Ireland, where his grandfather was born, on the youth international stage thus far, recording 21 appearances at various levels. He captained Ireland’s u15 side at a UEFA Development Tournament.
McDonnell has also played four games for Canada on the international stage at the 2023 CONCACAF Boys’ Under-15 Championship. He scored two goals in a contest against the Dominican Republic.
He will choose which country to represent at the senior level, with both nations undoubtedly hoping the budding superstar picks them.
Vancouver FC of Canadian Premier League are finalizing a transfer for 2008 born midfielder Grady Mcdonnell to Club Brugge’s 2nd team, Club NXT.
Brugge to pay €350k plus add ons for the U17 Ireland international. 🇮🇪🇨🇦
This is Vancouver’s first European and record transfer. pic.twitter.com/oD6hCyoVne
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 15, 2025
The 2008-born player is a central midfielder, and he told the Canadian Premier League’s Charlie O’Connor-Clarke that he models his game after Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham, one of the best in the world at the position.
Before joining Vancouver FC, McDonnell spent time with the Vancouver Whitecaps academy.
Vancouver FC has never completed a European transfer before in club history. Assuming this deal goes through, which looks promising, this will be a monumental moment for the organization.
This is expected to be the second-largest transfer in league history, trailing only Kwasi Poku’s move from Forge FC to Belgian club RWD Molenbeek for roughly $737,500.
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