VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC selected Generation adidas midfielder Ryan Raposo from Syracuse University in the first round (fourth overall) and goalkeeper Daniel Gagliardi from Florida International University in the second round (32nd overall) of the 2020 MLS SuperDraft on Thursday.
Rounds 3 and 4 take place on Monday, January 13.
Midfielder Ryan Raposo
- 19 goals and 14 assists in 36 starts and 38 appearances in his two seasons at Syracuse University
- All-ACC First Team selection as sophomore in 2019, All-ACC Freshman team in 2018
- Canada U-15 national team camp participant in 2014, Canada Games tournament MVP in 2017
Raposo, 20, made 36 starts in 38 total appearances at Syracuse, collecting 19 goals and 14 assists in only two seasons. He was selected to the All-ACC First Team last year after setting a school record for goals scored by a sophomore with 15. In 2018, the 5-foot-7 midfielder led his team with seven assists, leading to an All-ACC Freshman team recognition.
Born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario, Raposo has featured for Canada at the youth level, participating at U-15 camps in 2014. He captained his provincial team to a gold medal finish at the 2017 Canada Games, bagging tournament MVP honours in the process.
Capable of lining up as a winger or as an attacking midfielder, Raposo has spent training stints with German clubs TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, 1. FSV Mainz 05, and SV Sandhausen.
In his youth, Raposo developed at Toronto FC Academy, Burlington Youth Soccer Club, and Vaughan SC.
Raposo is signed to a Generation adidas contract, a joint program between MLS and adidas which sees a selection of top collegiate underclassmen and youth national team players signed and made available in the SuperDraft. GA contracts do not count against the salary budget.
Goalkeeper Daniel Gagliardi
- 18 starts and appearances, 0.93 GAA, 67 saves, 10W-3L-4D record, five clean sheets in 2019
- 2019 All-C-USA Third Team as redshirt senior
- Developed in his youth with Plantation SC and Kendall SC
- Played in USL League Two with IMG Academy, Montverde Academy, and Des Moines Menace, as well as Storm FC in NPSL
Gagliardi, 22, is coming off his redshirt senior year at FIU, recording 18 starts and appearances, 0.93 goals-against average, 67 saves, a 10W-3L-4D record, and five clean sheets in 2019 en route to being named to the All-Conference USA Third Team.
In four years playing with the Panthers, he made 30 starts in 33 appearances, allowing only 37 goals while collecting 132 saves and a 20W-5L-4D record with eight shutouts.
In his youth, the 6-foot-3 keeper developed with Plantation SC and Kendall SC. He also played in USL League Two with IMG Academy, Montverde Academy, and Des Moines Menace, as well as for Storm FC in the National Premier Soccer League.
Ryan Raposo
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-07
Weight: 145 pounds
Date of Birth: March 5, 1999 in Hamilton, Ontario
Hometown: Hamilton, Ontario
Citizenship: Canada, Portugal
Status: Domestic
University: Syracuse University (NCAA ’18 to ’19)
Youth: Toronto FC Academy, Burlington Youth Soccer Club, Vaughan SC
Transaction: Signed a Generation adidas contract on December 30, 2019, selected fourth overall in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft by Whitecaps FC on January 9, 2020
Daniel Gagliardi
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 6-03
Weight: 195 pounds
Date of Birth: January 21, 1997 in Plantation, Florida
Hometown: Plantation, Florida
Citizenship: United States, Brazil
Status: Domestic, Unsigned
University: Florida International University (NCAA ’15 to ’19)
Youth: Plantation SC, Kendall SC
Transaction: Selected 32nd overall (second round) in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft by Whitecaps FC on January 9, 2020
