Vancouver added to their roster as the MLS season nears with a midfielder who is also comfortable on the backline, Janio Bikel, from the top level in Bulgaria, CSKA Sofia. The 24 year old is signed through 2022, with '23 being an option year, he has played for Portugal at the youth international level.
'Caps HC Marco Dos Santos informed "Tactically, Janio gives us the ability to play him in a couple of different positions. He is versatile, he has the right mindset, good physical abiliites, and fits the profile we want here. I know the coaches he had at the Portugese youth national teams. He's a player who has been an important member at his previous clubs and we are very happy to have him in Vancouver."
His past teams:
-Portugal U-19 & 20's
-Netherlands, SC Heerenven & NEC Njimegen were his first clubs as a pro
-Aided CSKA Sophia to be runners up in the Bulgarian First League and semis of the Bulgarian Cup, 2019
Whitecaps SD Axel Schuster added "Janino provides a lot of options for us as he is comfortable in possession, a good dribbler, and is always defensively aware."
Born in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, his first game was in March of 2015 as a pro with SC Heerenveen, then off to NEC in July for the next trio of seasons. Onto Sofia in June of 2018 and a top player for them. All told in his 5 years as a pro he has 140 games.
See video on the Facebook of Soccer Long Island Magazine.