York9 FC Loans Hamilton To Dundee FC

One week after Canadian Premier League commissioner David Clanachan announced the prospective move, York9 FC has now made Jamaican forward Nicholas Hamilton’s loan move to Dundee FC official.

The 24-year-old was unable to join the York Region side in time to participate in the 2020 Canadian Premier League season due to work permit issues. In order for him to procure game time in the long Canadian offseason, Club President Angus McNab has arranged for him spend a season in the Scottish Championship with Dundee FC.

I felt that a loan until the end of the Scottish season was much better with the long term in mind and Dundee has been fantastic to partner with. James [McPake, Dundee manager] has very similar thoughts to our staff on Nicholas’ best position, so the loan made complete sense for all parties.

Angus McNab

The Jamaican forward has already arrived to the United Kingdom, where he is quarantining before he joins the Dundee FC squad. As a holder of a commonwealth passport, his transition to Scotland was made a fair bit easier than his move to Canada – though he’s clearly still a big part of the club’s plans for the 2021 Canadian Premier League season, having signed on a multi-year deal back in February.

Hamilton can play as both a central striker or a winger, and is expected to get a good amount of game time in as the club looks to improve on its third-place finish last year. He arrives in time for the club’s preseason campaign, representing his first competitive action since he played for Cavalier SC alongside Halifax Wanderers man Alex Marshall.

He made his debut in the Red Stripe Premier League at the age of 18, accumulating over 100 appearances and earning a call up to train with the national team.

We are delighted to have secured this loan for Nicholas. After the pandemic prevented him from being part of our squad for The Island Games, it was critical we found a way to continue his development.

Angus McNab

Unlike Jose Galan’s move to CP Villarrobledo, however, it looks like Hamilton is expected to miss part of the 2021 Canadian Premier League season assuming that it starts in April. His move to Scotland will see him stay with the Dees until the end of June 2021, with the forward belatedly arriving in Canada in July 2021.

The club did not mention if Dundee FC have an option to purchase the player at the end of his loan period.

Fans of the York Region team should expect more loan moves like this to be announced in the near future, with McNab revealing that talks are in place to get other members of the Nine Stripes competitive game time during the club’s prolonged offseason. Similar moves are expected to be made on a league-wide basis.

We’re excited for what this loan move represents and are in conversations with clubs that may see other players get similar opportunities as we focus our time now on ensuring we’re in the best possible place as a club for what we hope will be a more prosperous 2021.

Angus McNab

After missing out on a postseason berth by just one spot in the league table, McNab penned an apology to fans and promised that changes would be bring the club to brighter pastures next season.

Beyond potential loan moves, a recent interview between McNab and CanPL staff member Marty Thompson revealed that the side was looking into some fall exhibition games against rival side Forge FC, too.