Vancouver FC added another B.C. player to their 2024 roster with the announcement Tuesday, Jan. 23, that Burnaby native Paris Gee has signed a two-year contract with the Eagles.
A veteran of the game, Gee, 29, has played nearly 200 professional matches for teams across Canada, the United States, and in Croatia, but never in his home province.
“It’s always been in the back of my head to play in Vancouver and now it is happening,” said Gee. “To know that my friends and family can be in the stands for all 14 home games means the world to me and I can’t wait to get started.”
Most recently, Gee spent the past two seasons with York United FC, registering three assists in 36 games for the Nine Stripes. Gee starred for York in 2023 as a lynchpin of a squad that set new records for wins and points that season.
It was also during the 2023 season that Gee played his first professional game on hometown soil, when he visited Willoughby Community Park as a Nine Stripe on July 2, 2023.
The fan support in the stands for the kid from Burnaby that night gave Gee a glimpse of what it means to play at home in front of his friends and family, especially his father, who was recently diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and is in search of a kidney donor.
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“Bringing Paris home to be closer to his family, friends and fans will complete the circle of football for one of the most underrated players in the CPL,” said Afshin Ghotbi, Head Coach, Vancouver FC. “He is talented, versatile, consistent, durable, coachable and makes every team he plays for better.
Gee becomes the eighth B.C.-born athlete on Vancouver’s 2024 roster, joining goalkeeper Callum Irving, defenders Kadin Chung, Anthony White and James Cameron, midfielders Ben Fisk and Grady McDonnell, and forward Taryck ‘TJ’ Tahid.
Vancouver FC current roster
Goalkeeper: Callum Irving
Defenders: Kadin Chung, Rocco Romeo, Ibrahim Bakare, Tyler Crawford, Anthony White, James Cameron, Paris Gee
Midfielders: Elliot Simmons, Ben Fisk, Vasco Fry, Renan Garcia, Grady McDonnell
Forwards: Alejandro ‘Wero’ Díaz, Mouhamadou ‘Mamadou’ Kane, Gabriel Bitar, Taryck ‘TJ’ Tahid, Mikaël Cantave
Anyone willing to help Paris’ fathe by donating is asked contact the donor nurse coordinator at Vancouver General Hospital (Tel: 604-875-5182 / 1-855-875-5182 or email at kidneydonornurse@vch.ca) or through the BC Transplant website (www.transplant.bc.ca). Mr. Gee’s file number is #25572.