Whitecaps sign Lucas Cavallini from Puebla for club-record fee

The Vancouver Whitecaps confirmed the signing of Lucas Cavallini on Monday for a club-record fee.

The forward is set to play club football in his native Canada for the first time after inking a Designated Player contract through 2022 with the option of an additional year. The reported cost to buy him from Liga MX's Puebla was $6 million.

"We are thrilled to welcome Lucas and his family to our club and our city," said the Whitecaps' new sporting director Axel Schuster. "We've followed his career closely for a number of years. He has enjoyed a lot of success playing in two of the most difficult leagues in the Americas, is an important member of Canada's resurgence on the international scene, and now we are happy to welcome him to the Whitecaps."

Cavallini scored 29 goals and assisted eight times over 81 matches for Puebla. He previously plied his trade in Uruguay with Club Nacional, Club Atletico Juventud, CA Fenix, and CA Penarol, scoring 22 goals and recording 11 assists in 125 appearances across all competitions.

The Toronto-born attacker, who will turn 27 later this month, has also netted on 11 occasions for Canada over 17 caps. He represented his country at the 2017 and 2019 Gold Cups.

"We've been looking for a forward with the characteristics of Lucas," added Whitecaps head coach Marc Dos Santos. "Lucas is committed when the team doesn't have the ball, and at the same time he's very hungry to get in the box and make a difference in the attacking half. He has the right mentality and qualities on and off the pitch. Lucas will bring a lot to our team and (we) are very happy to have him join our club."

Cavallini will be a key figure during an anticipated rebuild in Vancouver. The franchise finished bottom of the Western Conference with a meager 37 goals last term and has failed to reach the MLS postseason in back-to-back campaigns.