The Halifax Wanderers Football Club has signed Canadian goalkeeper Adisa De Rosario and Canadian forward Owen Degelman to development contracts for the remainder of the 2022 CPL season. 

De Rosario, 17, joins the Wanderers from the Toronto FC academy. He was also a part of the MLS Next Pro squad for TFC II throughout their 2022 season. Earlier in 2022, he was called to a Canadian U-20 camp ahead of the CONCACAF U-20 Championship.

“We’re pleased to welcome Adisa into our squad and see how he can challenge himself further in a professional environment,” Wanderers sporting director Matt Fegan said.

“He has spent several years within the Toronto FC system, and this is a new test for him away from home. He is another young Canadian with a tremendous ceiling who we feel can benefit from his time working with ‘keeper coach Jan-Michael Williams.”

De Rosario’s name is quite familiar in Canadian soccer circles. His father, Dwayne, was a superstar in MLS and the Canadian national team, while his brother Osaze plays for York United FC in the CPL.

“Adisa has seen his brother come into the CPL and get some valuable development time and clearly sees the value in progressing his career here. We’ll look forward to helping him make those next steps,” Fegan said.

Degelman, 17, joins the Wanderers after spending last season with Bundesliga club Chemnitzer FC in Germany. Playing for their U17s in 2022, the 6-foot-2 striker tallied five goals and two assists in eight matches but could not complete an international transfer to the first team because he is still under 18.

“Owen now has a chance to come into our squad as a development player and benefit from being in a professional environment,” Fegan said. “As with any young player, it’s important they show the right mentality to want to learn and soak up the experience and ultimately earn some first-team minutes.”

“He arrives with an excellent reference from his coaches at Chemnitzer, and we’re working on plans for him to return to Germany in the off-season. We must always keep an eye on the future and how we can help young Canadian players develop and prepare themselves for the next level.”

Degelman spent his early development years on the west coast with the Vancouver Island Wave program and the Pacific FC U21 team.

De Rosario and Degelman give the Wanderers four development players for the 2022 season, along with Nic Gagan and Nassim Nouajaa.

Players under a development contract can be named to the match-day roster an unlimited number of times and play in up to three games in the 2022 season before consideration for a renewal. CPL clubs can register four total development contracts per season, which does not count towards the cap or 23-man roster spots. Within the limit of four development contracts per season, clubs can opt to renew an individual player once, should they wish to extend his availability to six games before deciding to offer a full professional contract and dedicating a roster position.

Both players arrive in Halifax this week and will join the squad for training.

Full Name: Adisa de Rosario

Age: 17

Position: Goalkeeper

Height: 6’1”

Birth Date: Oct 27, 2004

Birthplace: San Jose, California

Nationality: Canadian/American

Last Club: Toronto FC Academy

Pronunciation: AH-dee-sah deh-roe-SAR-ee-oh 

Full Name: Owen Degelman

Age: 17

Position: Forward 

Height: 6’2”

Birth Date: May 30, 2005

Birthplace: Calgary, AB

Nationality: Canadian

Last Club: Chemnitzer FC (Germany)

Pronunciation: owen DEG-uhl-man