FC Whitehorse Freezers have made their first acquisition as a CSL club, bringing in midfielder John Bryan from Lokamotiv Buda in the Hungarian League for a transfer fee of $300,000. Originally from Saskatoon, the 23 year old Bryan played in 20 matches for Buda last year scoring twice. He previously played four years for CSL club Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, scoring 11 goals in 117 matches.
Bryan's transfer deal was accompanied by a new contract that will keep him in Whitehorse for the next 5 years. He joins a roster comprised of former amateurs and lower tier players in Canada, and is excited to take on a leading role for his new club. "It's great to be back in the CSL, and with this brand new club in Whitehorse" said Bryan in his introductory press conference. "This club seems to have a lot of ambition, and I am looking forward to growing and developing here."
Manager Oros Bala cited John Bryan's work ethic and impressive all around ability as a key reason why he brought the midfielder in. "John is a very good presence to have in the middle" said Bala. "He is solid defensively, great at moving the ball forward, and shows a masterful ability in set pieces, all things that we are going to need this season. He's still young, but shows the qualities of a team leader."
Asked about what else he was looking to add, Bala remained stoic and non-committal. "We are definitely looking for more players, but it is hard to say at this stage who or how they will arrive. Time will tell."