As Kunle Dada-Luke takes the ferry ride across the Salish Sea to sign with Vancouver FC, there is one item that won’t be making the trip with him: his purple ‘KDL13’ headband.

The piece of cloth has become emblematic of his time with Pacific FC, where he spent the past four seasons in the CPL, playing 117 matches in all competitions and winning a CPL championship in 2021.

But have no fear, the iconic headbands will be back for 2025, just in a different colour.

“I’ve definitely got my black headbands ready on standby for the fans,” Dada-Luke tells CanPL.ca with a smile.

Dada-Luke has been wearing the bandana-style headbands since the 2021 season. When he first tried to debut them, he was told no by then-Pacific FC head coach Pa-Modou Kah. But after suffering a cut to his head in training, he was given approval. He performed so well while wearing the headband that Kah was forced to relent, and the headbands have become Dada-Luke’s good luck charm ever since.

While the headband may be what initially makes Dada-Luke stand out on the pitch, his outstanding football ability quickly catches the eye as well. Over those four seasons with Pacific he has developed into one of the CPL’s best and most exciting defenders. Now he brings those talents to the mainland and to B.C. rivals Vancouver FC, with the club announcing they signed him for the 2025 season with an option for 2026.

“In talking to the Vancouver coaching staff I just liked what I heard,” said Dada-Luke of why he made the switch. “I liked the opportunity that arose and I was excited. I thought this was a good move at this time of my career, and I’m excited to be here with the boys.”

In particular, he believes Vancouver’s tactical identity is an ideal situation for him to take the next step in his game.

“I just feel like the way they play with their fullbacks, it’s just really exciting,” said Dada-Luke. “The strikers in the box, the forwards, they’re always active. I just think if I put them in the right spots that I’ll get my assists, then obviously that’ll benefit the team going forward.”

Perhaps no full-back in the Canadian Premier League is as dynamic getting down the line as Dada-Luke. This past season he finished 10th in the league in dribbles completed (28) and third in successful open play crosses (18).

Not to mention the fact that he will now get to whip in crosses to the two most prolific strikers in Canadian Premier League history: Terran Campbell and Alejandro Díaz. That trio have already won a CPL title together with Pacific in 2021, alongside current Vancouver FC goalkeeper Callum Irving.

After growing up as a winger in the Toronto FC system, these attacking attributes in Dada-Luke’s game are second nature, but he says he’s had to put a lot of work over the past few years into the defensive side of the ball. It has clearly paid off, as he finished last season second in interceptions (49) and fifth in tackles won (51). As far as one-v-one defenders go, few in the league are better than Dada-Luke, who finished third in the CPL in duels won (167) and won 59.43 per cent of those which he contested in 2024.

A key ingredient in both aspects of his game is his blistering speed, as well as his intelligence in when and how to use it. He comes by that pace honestly. His mother, who ran track in high school, used to have her kids do little races around the block. Initially, Dada-Luke was always dead last, but as he grew suddenly he found another gear and started blowing past his brothers. To this day he will never shy away from a race.

“I like to challenge wingers, and of course try to take them on, I’ll give you the line if you kick a ball for a foot race,” said Dada-Luke. “That’s what I want. That’s my ball, I know 10 out of 10. So I kind of gauge the opponents, try to bait them into those foot race battles. We’ll see if anybody challenges me this year.”

Another element of Dada-Luke’s game which has made him so impactful over the past few seasons is his remarkable consistency. Only 11 outfield players have accumulated more CPL minutes across the past four seasons than Dada-Luke’s 6,936.

“I have a routine for game days and training, just to get my body ready. I just follow that routine to a tee,” said Dada-Luke. “I don’t try to shy away from it, because I know the results show I’m healthy for a good 90 minutes day in and day out.”

That is the sort of reliability he looks to continue with Vancouver FC. There are some 90 minutes this coming season, however, he is particularly looking forward to. On May 6, the Eagles travel to Starlight Stadium to take on Pacific FC in the Canadian Championship — his first visit to his former home.

“I’m obviously excited because I grew up playing with Pacific in the CPL,” said Dada-Luke. “I just hope there’s no bad blood between me and the fans. I still have a lot of love for the club, for everything they’ve done for me. But I knew it was time for a change, and hopefully they welcome me with open arms. But If I do get the boos, I’ll be ready for those as well.”

With that Pacific team, he learned what it takes to foster a winning culture. Aside from the aforementioned CPL title in 2021, Pacific made the playoffs in each of his four seasons on the Island, competed in the Concacaf League, and made three semi-final appearances in the past four editions of the Canadian Championship.

Now, that winning mentality is central to what Dada-Luke looks to bring with him across the Salish Sea.

“We’re trying to make a winning foundation for the club,” said Dada-Luke. “Obviously, we haven’t made the playoffs in our past history. But I think this is the year. We have a good group of players, and I think we’ll do something special this year that might shock the league.”