Valour Inks FC Manitoba Goalkeeper Evan Barker

Winnipeg-based Canadian Premier League side Valour FC has announced the signing of 24-year-old goalkeeper Evan Barker.

The Winnipeg local had previously trailed with the club alongside Quillan Roberts this offseason, though Philip Dos Santos opted to bring in Jonathan Sirois and Rayane Yesli instead.

Barker had developed with VFC youth affiliate Bonivital SC, and more recently spent four seasons with the University of New Brunswick Reds. The six-foot-four goalkeeper became a regular starter for the university side, starting 48 matches and earning two Conference All-Star nods.

The club’s newest shotstopper most recently played for FC Manitoba, where he spent part of the 2021 season with Valour’s Matteo de Brienne.

With Valour boss Phillip Dos Santos disclosing that Jonathan Sirois will be unable to play in the Canadian Championship due to a clause in his loan agreement, it is expected that Barker will ride the bench behind Yesli for the occasion. Yesli has yet to make a CPL appearance, but did appear in the cup competition for AS Blainville last year when they faced the Halifax Wanderers.

Valour recently enjoyed a belated home opener against the east coast side, prior to which the club completed a 6-1 dismantling of Atletico Ottawa.

Valour FC did not disclosed any contract details regarding the 24-year-old.