Vancouver FC Adds Wingers Nicky Gyimah And Min-Jae Kwak

Vancouver FC is leaning further in on international attacking talent with the addition of English winger Nicky Gyimah and South Korean winger Min-jae Kwak.

Gyimah arrives as quite an intriguing prospect: A Ghanaian youth international who hails from London, England, he made ten appearances for Sunderland at the U-23 level last season before being released, having previously gone through the youth ranks of Peterborough United and Slough Town FC.

Head coach Afshin Ghotbi describes him as a winger with plenty of pace, but also one who expresses creativity on the ball with a good eye in the final third. If all goes to plan, the youngster could prove to be a big chance creator for the expansion side.

“I am ready to officially get underway with Vancouver FC,” said a confident Gyimah. “I am grateful for the chance Vancouver is taking on me and I am eager to get going for the team.”

The club will also bring in Min-jae Kwak, a left winger who becomes just the second South Korean to play in the CPL after Son Yong-Chan, FC Edmonton’s ‘Smiling Assassin’.

Hailing from the Gyeonggi-do province, Kwak actually grew up in the United States and arrives to Vancouver FC following two years in NISA – the third tier of US soccer – where he played for AC Syracuse Pulse and California United Strikers FC. He tallied four goals and one assist for the latter, cracking the 2022 NISA Best Eleven. He also tallied four goals for the former club, too.

This won’t be Kwak’s first time playing abroad, with the 22-year-old having spent a spell with Croatian side HNK Gorica when he was 19.

“I am happy and thankful to be joining Vancouver,” said Kwak. “I grew up on the west coast and am looking forward to continuing my career here, if a little further north. I am committed to doing everything I can to help my new team win right away.”

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Ghotbi, who was on the coaching staff of a South Korean side that came ninety minutes from a World Cup final, is quite keen to see how Kwak performs in the CPL.

“South Korean football produces great footballers, and Min-jae embodies most of the qualities South Korean players are famous for: industrial, explosive and technical,” added Ghotbi. “Min-jae is capable with both feet and can both score and put his teammates in scoring positions.”

The duo aren’t the only international players to land with the club, with Vancouver FC introducing Liga MX veteran Gael Sandoval last week, with Club Puebla youngster Cristian Mares also joining the side on loan.

In addition, Belizean international Eugene ‘Pele’ Martinez will also aid the defensive end throughout the club’s inaugural season.

Vancouver FC did not disclose the contract length for either Gyimah or Kwak. Given that both have been with the club since at least late February, they were likely involved in the club’s recent back-to-back preseason wins.