Langley, BC — Jan. 9, 2024 — Vancouver FC today announced it has secured its goalkeeping duo of Callum Irving and Niko Giantsopoulos for the upcoming Canadian Premier League season, after the league veterans each signed new contracts with the Eagles.
Club captain Irving signed a new contract guaranteed through 2026, while the new contract for Giantsopoulos runs through 2025.
Irving, 31, became the first player signing in VFC history when he joined the club out of free agency in December 2022, ahead of the squad’s inaugural CPL season in 2023. The signing marked a homecoming for the native of Vancouver, who spent three years with VFC’s provincial rival Pacific FC before making the move back to the Lower Mainland, where his journey in soccer began decades earlier as a youth player with Marpole SC.
Named club captain in April 2023, Irving has been a central figure within Vancouver’s lineup over the club’s first two seasons. He leads the franchise with 57 appearances in the Eagles’ 58 matches to date. He was the league-leader in saves in back-to-back seasons in 2023 and 2024, his 95 stops this past season becoming the most by any CPL goalkeeper in league history. It was the second league record Irving set last season, after he made 11 saves in an October 2024 match against Halifax Wanderers FC, marking the most stops by any goalkeeper in a single game in league history.
Starting today we will be revealing the nominees for the 2024 CPL Awards!
Up first are the nominees for the Golden Glove 🧤
🔱 Emil Gazdov, @Pacificfccpl
🦅 Callum Irving, @vanfootballclub
👑 Thomas Vincensini, @yorkutdfcThe 2024 CPL Awards will be broadcast live from… pic.twitter.com/DhcM2jwpJC
— Canadian Premier League (@CPLsoccer) October 28, 2024
Irving’s consistency and natural shot-stopping ability earned him a nomination for the CPL’s Golden Glove award, honouring the best goalkeeper in the league, in 2024. It marked Irving’s third career nomination.
“It’s no secret that this club holds a special place in my heart. From playing in front of my family, friends, and partner, to all the amazing people I’ve met in the stands and within the club, I truly feel like I am home. I’m so excited to re-sign with VFC and play my part in pushing the club forward and can’t wait to see everyone out at Willoughby in 2025!” said Irving.
Giantsopoulos, 30, joined Vancouver ahead of the 2024 season. In landing Giantsopoulos, Vancouver secured one of the league’s most experienced netminders, a keen competitor who would be ready for any opportunity while pushing Irving for the No. 1 spot between the posts, and ensured it was home to one of the strongest goalkeeping duos in Canadian football.
A native of Markham, Ont., Giantsopoulos has been a mainstay in the CPL since the league launched in 2019. He spent two seasons with Cavalry FC in 2019 and 2020, making 10 appearances, before moving to his hometown York United FC, where he played from 2021 to 2023. Giantsopoulos made 55 total appearances for the Nine Stripes over three seasons, registering 13 clean sheets, twice helping the squad to the CPL Playoffs and wearing the captain’s armband on numerous occasions while with the club.
“I believe in this project and this club. I really loved working with all the people involved around the team in 2024 and the opportunity to come back was something I couldn’t refuse.” said Giantsopoulos.
Vancouver FC has now signed 12 players to its 2025 roster. The club will announce further roster updates in the coming weeks. The Eagles recently launched Season Memberships for the upcoming 2025 Canadian Premier League Season. Fans looking to join Vancouver FC at the Langley Events Centre for the upcoming season can purchase tickets here.
