Vancouver Whitecaps FC acquired 21-year-old Tunisian centre back Jasser Khmiri on Friday, bolstering their back line with another promising young talent.
The 6-foot-4 defender is Vancouver’s most recent roster acquisition, following the addition of rising South Korean midfielder Hwang In-beom, as the club continues preparations ahead of their March 2 home opener at BC Place. Khmiri is the first Tunisian to sign in Major League Soccer.

“Jasser is a player who caught our eye thanks to his strong performances with the Tunisian U-21 national team,” said Whitecaps FC head coach Marc Dos Santos. “He’s 6-foot-4, he has very good speed, and he’s comfortable with the ball, which are all qualities we are looking for in a centre back. At 21 years old, we believe Jasser has a tremendous upside and that he can become an important player for this club.”

Khmiri burst onto the scene with outstanding performances at the youth level with the Tunisian national team. He was first called up to Tunisia’s senior national team in preparation for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, including a camp last January in Qatar, then again in September of 2018.

The native of Tunis, Tunisia, made his professional debut at the age of 18 with Stade Tunisien in May 2016. He played three seasons with Stade Tunisien, collecting 38 appearances and scoring three goals including cup competition.

 

In other Whitecaps news,Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced on Friday that the club and midfielder Efraín Juárez have mutually agreed to a contract termination.

“We are thankful to Efraín for his time with the club and we wish him all the best,” said Whitecaps FC vice president of soccer operations Greg Anderson.