Pacific FC today signed Steffen Yeates, Canadian youth international and former Toronto FC II midfielder, to a multi-year contract with the club.

“We are excited to add a player of Steffen’s quality to our midfield,” said James Merriman, head coach, Pacific FC. “We see him as a true eight, box-to-box central midfielder. He’s a player that wants to be on the ball but is also willing to do the work without it. He’s motivated, ambitious and wants to make an impact immediately.”

A dynamic central midfielder from Toronto, Yeates, 22, boasts excellent awareness and ball-progression abilities. He shows a willingness to join the attack, matched by his strengths in protecting the backline.

Yeates began his youth career with Vaughan Soccer Club, before joining the Toronto FC academy in 2013. He debuted for Toronto FC II during the United Soccer League regular season in 2018, making four appearances and starting two matches.

In between stints with Toronto FC II, Yeates played two seasons in the NCAA from 2018 to 2019, first with the University of Connecticut Huskies before moving west to join the Oregon State Beavers’ men’s soccer program. At UCONN, Yeates made 17 appearances as a freshman and finished the season with one goal and one assist. During his sophomore season with Oregon State, he made 14 appearances and scored two goals.

Yeates returned home and signed a USL contract with Toronto FC II in April 2021. He made 42 appearances for the team between the 2021 and 2022 seasons, scoring three goals and adding four assists. Yeates made his Major League Soccer debut for Toronto FC in May 2022, after the club signed him to a short-term loan agreement. Yeates logged a total of 31 minutes over two appearances for Toronto FC that month.

Internationally, Yeates represented Canada at both the Concacaf Men’s U-17 Championship in 2017 and the Concacaf Men’s U-20 Championship in 2018. In 2017, Yeates started all three of Canada’s games. He scored his first goal for his country in 2018 at the U-20 Championship, when he scored and assisted in a match against Martinique.

“We look forward to welcoming Steffen to our group,” says Merriman. “We know he is hungry to further develop and push himself to another level.”

Yeates becomes the latest addition to the Pacific FC squad this offseason and pushes the total number of confirmed players to 13.

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