Vancouver Whitecaps add Richie Laryea on loan, Sam Adekugbe on permanent transfer

The Vancouver Whitecaps completed a double deadline swoop on Thursday, bringing in CanMNT full backs Richie Laryea and Sam Adekugbe, bolstering their lineup ahead of a potential playoff push. 

Laryea, 28, had been on a lengthy loan spell since January of 2022 with his former club Toronto FC, having struggled to find playing time for his new club Nottingham Forest. That deal expired on June 30, and the Canadian international will now slot into the Whitecaps lineup until the end of the year, as he was inked on a loan until December 31st, 2023. 

The Whitecaps are also reportedly looking to make the move permanent during the January transfer window, according to The Athletic, in which they would consider bringing the Canadian in as a Designated Player, according to Tom Bogert and Paul Tenorio of The Athletic.

Meanwhile, Adekugbe, 28, returns to the club he made his professional debut with, having come out of their academy nearly a decade earlier, signing through 2026 with an option for 2027. 

It's a long-awaited return for Adekugbe, who since has had stints with Brighton, Goteborg, Valerenga, Hatayspor and most recently, Galatasaray, also accumulating 41 caps for Canada along the way. 

Now, he'll look to don the blue and white kit which he represented 16 times between 2013 and 2017, marking a triumphant return for one of the club's most successful academy graduates. 

It's yet unsure when the pair could make their debut, as the Whitecaps' next match comes on Friday, August 4th against Tigres in the Round of 32 of Leagues Cup. Should they win, they'd play their Round of 16 clash between August 6th and 8th, in which the pair would likely suit up. If not, their next match won't be until August 20th, when they host the San Jose Earthquakes at BC Place in MLS action.