Vancouver FC heavily relied on their captain, Callum Irving, in net throughout their inaugural season. The 31-year-old was a consistent, reliable presence at the back in 2023, playing in all but one of VFC’s 29 matches. Now, the club has added a fellow veteran goalkeeper Niko Giantsopoulos to the roster ahead of the 2024 Canadian Premier League (CPL) season. Giantsopoulos joins The Eagles on a contract through 2024 with a further option for the 2025 season.

“I am very excited to be continuing my career in the CPL with Vancouver,” Giantsopoulos said about joining his newest club.

Giantsopoulos, 29, is one of the founding players of the CPL, joining Cavalry FC at the launch of the league in 2019. He went on to play two seasons with the Cavs making ten appearances, including four in the Canadian Championship in 2019. 

In 2021, Giantsopoulos moved to his second CPL club, York United FC, where he has spent the last three seasons. The native of Markham, Ont. helped the Nine Stripes to the CPL playoffs in his first season and in 2023. He also had a memorable 2022 Canadian Championship run where he saved three penalty shots in two shootouts to help advance York to the semi-finals of the tournament that year. Giantsopoulos made 55 total appearances during his time with York and registered 13 clean sheets.

“I have built a competitive career in my native country and have worked alongside some of the best in the business,” said Giantsopoulos. “I’m ready to bring my skills to a young, exciting project in VFC and am looking forward to what this new opportunity holds.”

Prior to playing in his native of Canada, Giantsopoulos spent three years playing for professional teams in Australia’s National Premier Leagues, after signing his first professional deal with Devonport City in 2016.

“We are thrilled to bring depth, quality and experience to VFC with Niko,” said Afshin Ghotbi, Head Coach, Vancouver FC. “We believe that with both Callum and Niko manning our goal, we now have one of the strongest goalkeeping pairs in Canadian football.”

Giantsopoulos will now represent his third CPL club when Vancouver kicks off their second season against Valour FC on Sunday, Apr. 14 at 4 p.m. at Willoughby Community Park. Tickets to Vancouver’s home opener and to all of VFC’s home matches can be purchased here.