Pacific FC announced its second batch of re-signings for this off-season on Friday, revealing that four key players from the 2020 squad will be returning for next year.

Defenders Kadin Chung, Thomas Meilleur-Giguère, and Lukas MacNaughton, as well as striker Alejandro Díaz, have all re-signed with the Vancouver Island club, bolstering the core of coach Pa-Modou Kah’s team for the next season after a top-four finish at The Island Games in PEI.

Chung is, technically, the longest-serving Pacific FC player, having joined in 2019 as the club’s first-ever signing. The 22-year-old was a force at right fullback in 2020, showing talent on both sides of the ball in his nine appearances at The Island Games. A native of Port Coquitlam, B.C., Chung is one of the best fullbacks in the CPL in duels and taking on opposing defenders 1v1, having dominated the right side with teammate Marco Bustos throughout the tournament.

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In the middle of Pacific’s defence, Meilleur-Giguère and MacNaughton will continue to provide cover. The pair started most games together as a centre-back pairing in 2020, with Meilleur-Giguère playing every minute of the Tridents’ campaign. MacNaughton, 25, also played for Pacific in 2019, signing on Vancouver Island after stints in League1 Ontario and U SPORTS with Alliance United and the University of Toronto.

Meilleur-Giguère, meanwhile, came to Pacific in early 2020 as a free agent after his previous club, the Ottawa Fury, folded in late 2019. The 23-year-old (as of Friday) from Repentigny, Que., is a product of the Montreal Impact Academy, and he has represented Canada at the under-20 level 12 times.

“Lukas and TMG are a strong partnership which will continue to grow and get better,” said Pacific coach Kah in a media release. “They are always looking for ways to improve their game.”

The final name on Friday’s list is Díaz, who was Pacific’s only international player in 2020. A 24-year-old native of Mexico, Díaz appeared in all 10 of Pacific’s matches at The Island Games. He scored three goals and added two assists, contributing to a solid attack both as a starter and a substitute. The forward initially came to Pacific as a marquee signing, having moved directly from Mexican giants Club América, for whom he played in Liga MX and the Concacaf Champions League.

“All of these players are important building blocks for Pacific as we continue to grow and build a team that will fight for a championship,” said Kah. “We have loved working with each of them as people and players.”

With these four added, Pacific now has 11 players signed for 2021, including returnees Marcel de Jong, Jordan Haynes, Josh Heard, Matthew Baldisimo, Sean Young, and Emil Gazdov (on loan at FC Nürnberg), as well as newcomer Manny Aparicio.