It's official. Vancouver FC has sold 16-year-old midfielder Grady McDonnell to Belgian giants Club Brugge, with a source indicating the deal is valued at €350,000 including add-ons. The Eagles will have a sell-on percentage.

The fee makes it the second-highest outbound transfer fee in Canadian Premier League history, behind Kwasi Poku to RWD Molenbeek – also of Belgium – with the total rumoured to be around €500k.

The young midfielder will initially play for Brugge's development squad, Club NXT, who currently compete in the 2nd tier of Belgian football but are ineligible for promotion.



McDonnell, 16, joined the Langley-based side in January 2024, making 17 limited appearances for the club and tallying 2 assists.

He is eligible for Ireland and Canada, most recently representing the former at the youth levels.

In September of last year, he scored his first goal for the Irish U17 team in a 2-1 loss to Denmark.

"Signing a talent like Grady, one of the top emerging players in Canada, shows the ambitions of our young club, as his further development demanded that he be given the right platform to thrive," said Rob Friend, Co-Owner, President and CEO of Vancouver FC. "We’re thrilled at the progress we’ve seen in him over the past year. As a club, we’re committed to being a home for top Canadian talent to develop, improve and compete at a high level, and to open doors for those players within the global game. We know Grady will be the first of many Vancouver FC players to reach new heights with the support of our club."

"When I signed with Vancouver, the club offered me the opportunity to continue my development by testing myself against professionals day in and day out, in training and, importantly, in competitive matches," said McDonnell. "The club pushed me, helped me improve my game and ensured I was ready for this next step. I’m grateful to Vancouver for their support of me and I’m excited to start a new chapter with Club Brugge."