Now official 

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The Vancouver Whitecaps have signed free agent midfielder Stuart Armstrong to a Designated Player contract until 2026. The Whitecaps announced the deal early on Tuesday morning. Armstrong arrives as a free agent after his contract expired at Southampton earlier this summer. On Monday, the Whitecaps opened up an international spot buying out the guaranteed contract of defender Luís Martins. 

“We are very excited to welcome Stuart and his family to Vancouver,” Vancouver Whitecaps sporting director Axel Schuster said in a club statement. “He is a player who has excelled for many years at the highest levels in the United Kingdom, as well as internationally with Scotland. He brings experience, tactical awareness, positional flexibility, and a very high work rate. In addition, his passing range and elite chance creation from the midfield position will add another dimension to our team’s overall attack.”

There is no doubt that Armstrong arrives with plenty of experience. A 52-times Scotland international (five goals), Armstrong has played 222 games in the Scottish Premiership (41 goals and 47 assists) and featured in 149 Premier League games (16 goals and 11 assists). Last year, Armstrong managed five goals and seven assists in 42 games in the Championship with Southampton. 

Armstrong to the Whitecaps: MLS club adds “very intelligent player”

What can the Whitecaps expect from Armstrong? “Armstrong will reunite with Ryan Gauld after playing together back in Scotland with Dundee United at the beginning of their careers,” Transfermarkt UK content manager Euan Robertson said. “The 32-year-old is an experienced campaigner with 149 appearances in the English Premier League. One of Armstrong’s biggest strengths is his versatility as he can play various midfield roles either centrally or on either flank. He excels at running beyond the strikers and he will possess an attacking threat in the MLS. While Gauld is more of a technical creator, Armstrong provides more power but he’s also a very intelligent player.”

Indeed, Armstrong excelled in the Championship last season. The midfielder ranked second in the league with 94 deep completions, fifth with 39 smart passes, and 16th with 41.03% completed smart passes. There is more. Armstrong also ranked 22nd with 82.84% completed progressive passes. In other words, Armstrong was a key impact player in one of the most competitive second divisions in European football last season. Those abilities could be the missing piece for a Whitecaps midfield looking for more creativity.