January 9, 2023...York United FC Announces Signing of Canadian Forward Brian Wright (from York United FC website)

YORK UNITED FC ANNOUNCES SIGNING OF CANADIAN FORWARD BRIAN WRIGHT

The 27-year-old commits to a two-year deal with The Nine Stripes.

York United FC is thrilled to announce the signing of Canadian forward Brian Wright.

The 27-year-old has put pen to paper on a two-year deal.

Most recently, Wright - born in Toronto, ON and raised in Ajax, ON - spent two seasons with Atletico Ottawa
where he scored 14 times across 53 appearances and was a consistent thorn in the sides of various
Canadian Premier League defenders.

In 2022, he was a key part of Atleti's run to both the CPL regular season title and subsequent Championship
decider against Forge FC. In all competitions, he netted seven goals in 29 games (six from open play)
and finished the campaign as the club's second-highest goalscorer.

It was a similar story in 2021 as Wright struck another seven times (six in the league, plus one more
in the Canadian Championship) in 24 appearances during his debut campaign in the Canadian capital.

Prior to arriving in the CPL, the imposing attacker was based in the United States since 2013. Having spent
four superb years at the University of Vermont, where he accumulated a string of individual accolades
(including becoming the program's second all-time leading scorer: 66 starts and 39 goals), Wright was
the 20th overall selection in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft and signed with the New England Revolution.

Initially, he was loaned to United Soccer League (USL) club Tulsa Roughnecks (where he was briefly
a team-mate of another current Nine Stripe, Paris Gee) before making his Revs debut in a US Open Cup
victory over Rochester Rhinos. In the next round against DC United, Wright made his first ever professional
start and scored in a 2-1 win. The following week, he made his MLS debut and played 37 minutes off
the bench in a clash with Philadelphia Union. After a string of substitute appearances, he was handed
a first MLS start by Head Coach Brad Friedel at Yankee Stadium in September 2018 against New York City FC.
Memorably, Wright scored the game-winner with 20 minutes remaining. His final contribution to the club
came in April 2019 with a cameo in a 4-4 thriller versus Sporting Kansas City. Overall, he made
18 appearances in all competitions for the Revs and scored twice.

Wright signed a loan deal with USL Championship outfit Birmingham Legion for the remainder of 2019 before
making a permanent switch the following year. In total, he netted nine goals in 44 appearances for the
club, adding a further five assists.

"Brian is a proven goalscorer in the CPL - he put three past us in the league last season so I’m happy
we won’t be playing against him now," says Angus McNab, York United FC's CEO/President and GM.

"He has the highest xG per shot of any forward in the league over the past two seasons and we feel that
given the squad we are assembling, we can create a volume of opportunities for him to score many
more goals."

For Head Coach Martin Nash, Wright's signing represents a major coup, with the striker's overall profile
simply too good to ignore.

"Brian is one of the top strikers in the CPL," Nash says.

"There are a number of elements to his game that really stand out. He's got the ability to operate
as a hold-up player or run in behind, he makes intelligent runs and is an excellent finisher. A great
off-season acquisition for us."

Wright becomes the latest acquisition for the club ahead of the 2023 season.

Other arrivals include a trio of Canadian midfielders - Elijah Adekugbe, Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé
and Markiyan Voytsekhovskyy, as well as Dutch defender Lassana Faye.

Familiar faces also return for next season.

Goalkeepers Niko Giantsopoulos and Eleias Himaras are both confirmed while midfielder Matthew Baldisimo
is back on a permanent basis after arriving on loan from Pacific FC towards the end of last term.
Defender Paris Gee and forward Austin Ricci have also committed to new deals.

Earlier in the off-season, the club confirmed striker Osaze De Rosario had signed a two-year extension
and will remain with The Nine Stripes through 2024.

A handful of players are also under contract for the upcoming season: Tass Mourdoukoutas, Max Ferrari,
Mo Babouli and Kevin Dos Santos.

YORK UNITED FC PLAYERS UNDER CONTRACT FOR 2023 (16)
1) Niko Giantsopoulos
2) Paris Gee
3) Tass Mourdoukoutas
8) Elijah Adekugbe
9) Brian Wright
11) Kevin Dos Santos
16) Max Ferrari
18) Mo Babouli
22) Austin Ricci
24) Osaze De Rosario
27) Ronan Kratt
28) Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé
33) Matthew Baldisimo
43) Lassana Faye
67) Eleias Himaras
70) Markiyan Voytsekhovskyy

back to 2023 York United FC menu