Centre-back Ibrahim Bakare joins Vancouver FC

English central defender Ibrahim Bakare has become Vancouver FC’s latest international signing ahead of their inaugural season. 

“I am really pleased to be joining Vancouver, to have the opportunity to settle here and experience playing professional soccer in Canada,” said Bakare. “I want to show what I can do and share my experience and leadership with the team. I am excited to put my head down and get to work for the club.” 

The 20-year-old centre-back, who stands at six-foot-one, has considerable experience for his age. Bakare’s stops in English professional soccer to date include with then League Two side Morecambe FC, where he signed with the club’s under-18 squad in August 2018 and remained until October 2020, and with Cardiff City F.C., where he captained the Bluebird’s under-23 side on numerous occasions during more than a year with the club from 2021 to 2022.

Bakare has also spent time with Cheshunt F.C. in the sixth tier of English soccer, Macclesfield FC in England’s Northern Premier League Division One West and National League North side Kettering Town.

“We are thrilled to introduce a fantastic defender in Ibrahim, who possesses personality, quality and experience beyond his young age,” said Afshin Ghotbi, Head Coach, Vancouver FC. “His power, athleticism and versatility will make him a valuable addition to our squad.”

Bakare joins strikers Mamadou Kane, Nathanial St. Louis and Shaan Hundal, midfielders Gael Sandoval, Elliot Simmons, Gabriel Bitar, Maël Henry, Nicky Gyimah, Min-jae Kwak, Cristian Mares and Nima Moazeni Zadeh, defenders Kadin Chung, Pele Martinez, Rocco Romeo, Marcus Simmons, Kahlil John-Wentworth and Tyler Crawford and goalkeepers Callum Irving and Jeremy Zielinski on Vancouver’s roster.