Vancouver Rise FC rounded out their advent calendar week with their fifth signing in five days as Canadian defender Ariel Young put pen to paper on a professional contract with the club.
A graduate of the Vancouver Whitecaps Girls Elite Academy, Young, 23, played with the University of Central Florida before embarking on her professional career with Fortuna Hjørring in Denmark’s top-flight Elitedivisionen.
Rise sporting director Stephanie Labbé said in a press release they are excited to be signing their first player who is a full graduate of the academy.
“We’re excited to sign Ariel, the first Rise FC player to come through the Whitecaps FC Girls Elite Academy program,” Labbé said. “She has just finished her first professional season in Denmark, and we are excited to bring her back to Vancouver with that experience.”
For Young, playing professionally in Canada is an exciting new path.
“Growing up in Canada, I could have only imagined playing in front of friends and family. And that’s why I’m so excited to be part of the inaugural season of the NSL right here at home.”
