Kenji Cabrera joins the Vancouver Whitecaps - Pedro Vite replacement

The Vancouver Whitecaps have signed Kenji Cabrera from FBC Melgar. Both clubs have now made the deal offical. The 22-year-old Peruvian winger has been identified as a replacement for Pedro Vite. The Peruvian has an exit clause and will cost $1.2m (€1m). Personal terms were agreed last week, and Cabrera has signed a contract until 2028 with a club option for 2029 and will be part of the MLS U22 Initiative. 

Vancouver sporting director Axel Schuster has earmarked some of the Vite money to strengthen the squad immediately. Cabrera has been identified as a player with significant upside who can also help the team immediately. Born in Shiga, Japan, Cabrera has been a rising star in Peru. This season, he has scored nine goals and four assists in 26 games across all competitions. As a result, Cabrera’s market value has doubled since last November from €800,000 to now €1.6m.

Adding quality after Vite’s departure will be paramount for the Whitecaps. After a red-hot start to the season that included a run to the Concacaf Champions Cup final, the ‘Caps have run out of steam a bit lately. Since losing the final to Cruz Azul (5-0), the Whitecaps have won just three of their last seven games. One of those victories came against Canadian Premier League side Valour FC (2-1).

Kenji Cabrera to Vancouver Whitecaps – First domino to fall?

Indeed, Cabrera is unlikely to be the only addition in the upcoming secondary transfer window, which opens on July 24. The Whitecaps are still looking for a progressive midfielder who can fill the void left by Stuart Armstrong. In addition, the ‘Caps will also want to add another player to replace Vite. Either way, all fingers point towards a busy summer for the Whitecaps.

What can Cabrera add to the Whitecaps? “Kenji is a player with the ability to impact the game offensively in central and wide areas,” said Whitecaps FC sporting director Axel Schuster. “In the last year, we’ve seen him develop into a key part of Melgar and we believe he’s ready to take the next step in his career. Similar to our other U22 Initiative player signings including Pedro Vite and Édier Ocampo, he still has room to grow but we are looking forward to helping him reach his potential as he begins this new chapter. We have started the immigration process and hope to have him join the club in mid-August or earlier."

In Peru, Cabrera is seen as a rising talent. "Cabrera represents one of the new faces that the Peruvian national team will need for its upcoming challenges," Transfermarkt Area Manager Peru Gerson Romero said. "He is the most talented U-23 forward in Peru thanks to his great dribbling and attacking impact with goals and assists. His good performances in the Peruvian league and the Copa Libertadores make him a reliable and productive player."