The Vancouver Whitecaps are in the final stages of signing forward Fredy Montero, sources confirmed to MLSsoccer.com on Friday.
It was announced earlier on Friday that Montero and Portuguese club Sporting CP agreed to terminate his contract, clearing the way for the Colombian to re-join Vancouver on a free transfer. Montero, 31, played for the Whitecaps in 2017 on loan, recording 13 goals and six assists in 33 regular season appearances before leaving the club for Sporting last January.
The sources said that Montero and Vancouver are still hammering out the final financial terms of his deal, and it’s not yet clear whether he’ll be a Designated Player or if his contract will be able to be bought down with Targeted Allocation Money. The sources said that his deal will be guaranteed through the 2020 season.
Montero spent 2009-2012 with the Seattle Sounders, tallying 47 goals and 34 assists in 119 regular season appearances with the club. He moved to Sporting CP on loan in 2013, then joined the Portuguese side on a permanent transfer in 2014. He spent two more years with the club before moving to Chinese side Tianjin TEDA, where he played one season before making his first move to Vancouver.
The ‘Caps currently have just two forwards on their roster, 19-year-old Homegrown rookie Theo Bair and 20-year-old Uruguayan youth international Joaquin Ardaiz, who the ‘Caps acquired last week as a Young Designated Player on loan from Swiss second-division club FC Chiasso.
The Whitecaps will open the 2019 MLS regular season on March 2 against Minnesota United.
