Whitecaps Acquire Andrew Jacobson from NYCFC

The Vancouver Whitecaps have acquired another midfielder, snagging veteran MLS player Andrew Jacobson from New York City FC. The 30 year old American has seven years experience in MLS, and has previously played for DC United, FC Dallas, and the Philadelphia Union. He scored one goal and started 33 contests for New York in their inaugural MLS season.

According to the NYCFC media release, he requested the trade in a bid to be closer to his family.

Jacobson: "I'm really excited to join #VWFC. It's a top class club with a great coach and a lot of young talent." #OurAllOurHonour

— Vancouver Whitecaps (@WhitecapsFC) March 11, 2016

Jacobson is more of a defensive midfielder, and will help fill a position that's been left a little thin by the departure of Gershon Koffie, and the calf injury to Russell Teibert. The young Kianz Froese partnered with Matias Laba in the season opener. I asked Sam Dunn over at fellow Sbnation blog Hudson River Blue for some information about what we can expect from the new guy.

AJ is a box-to-box enforcer. He's a physical stopper/ball-winner type, but not a pure number-six defensive midfielder: for him, it's all about covering a ton of ground, and he's not afraid to cheat forward.

He fancies taking a shot every now and then, but only from 20+ yards out (he ripped a screamer against Columbus last season: https://t.co/Zbf4OMSEgN).

Pace and passing are not his strengths, but he got better with the ball at his feet over the course of last season. Depending on how the Caps want to line up, I can see him bringing some toughness playing off the shoulder of a guy like Laba.

As it stands, he's probably not a starter if they stick with the 4-5-1/4-2-3-1 they played last week.

The trade is still pending receipt of his international transfer certificate, Canadian work permit and visa.