Gianni Dos Santos Set To Stay With Pacific

Pacific FC has announced the returning of international striker Gianni Dos Santos.

The Dutch-born Cape Verdean made twenty appearances for the Tridents last season, contributing one goal and two assists – one of which helped set up the club’s title-winning goal.

The 23-year-old featured in several attacking roles under Pa-Modou Kah, and while he finished with only a handful of goal contributions it looks like new PFC gaffer James Merriman wants to see what Dos Santos can bring to the table in 2022.

He won’t be the only Dutch talent in the attacking line-up, with the club recruiting PSV youth product Djenairo Daniels in what has been a busy offseason. With all-time top PFC goalscorer Terran Campbell making the jump to Forge, the Tridents need an attacking talent to step up big time.

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Dos Santos began his career with FC Dordrecht in 2017 before transitioning to Sparta Rotterdam as a youth prospect the following season. Returning to Dordrecht last year, he was described as a ‘diamond in the rough’ by head coach Harry van den Ham prior and scored four goals in 17 appearances before Pacific took a chance on the young forward.

This week also saw the club had English left-back Nathan Mavila, with Dos Santos now becoming the fourth international on the roster. He won’t the the last foreign talent to be announced by the club this offseason, either.

More locally, the west coast side is also expected to add Kamron Habibullah on loan from the Whitecaps in the near future.

Pacific FC will begin its title defense on Sunday, April 10 when it hosts Forge FC at Starlight Stadium. It did not disclose the length of its contract with Gianni Dos Santos.