Pacific FC announced Wednesday that captain Josh Heard has agreed to a new two-year contract to remain with the Vancouver Island club through 2026.

Heard has played for Pacific since 2020, making the upcoming season his sixth with the team. Since first signing in Langford, Heard has made 118 appearances for the Tridents, contributing 21 goals and 10 assists.

The Cardiff-born but Victoria-raised attacker has worn the captain’s armband for his hometown club since 2023, and has been a key member of the side through many of its greatest successes, including the 2021 CPL Final triumph, multiple Concacaf League matches, and the Canadian Championship victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps, also in 2021.

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Last season, Heard made 22 appearances for Pacific across all competitions, scoring a crucial goal for the club in their TELUS Canadian Championship quarter-final win over Atlético Ottawa.

“Josh is an important player in our team; he gives everything in each match and every time he puts on the jersey, he plays with his heart on his sleeve,” said Pacific head coach James Merriman in a statement. “He is growing all the time in his leadership role as captain and continues to challenge the daily environment.”

The 30-year-old Heard is a product of the local soccer community in Victoria, having played at the youth level for Lakehill Soccer Association and Victoria Metro before playing semi-pro football for Victoria Highlanders while competing in the NCAA for the University of Washington Huskies.

Heard opted to come home to Pacific in 2020 after several years playing abroad, including stints in the USL with Bethlehem Steel and Real Monarchs, as well as in Austria with Pinzgau Saalfelden.

“I want to continue to build and recapture our past successes and what makes us who we are,” said Heard in a release.

Pacific now have seven players with confirmed guaranteed contracts for 2025, including goalkeepers Emil Gazdov and Sean Melvin, defenders Christian Greco-Taylor and Aly Ndom, midfielder Sean Young and forward Dario Zanatta.

"It's not just a club. It's not just scoring goals. It's a community, it brings people together."⁠ – Pacific FC Captain Josh Heard#ForTheIsle pic.twitter.com/uu0oWuLtou

— Pacific FC (@Pacificfccpl) December 11, 2024