Gabriel Bitar was with Vancouver FC from the beginning.

When the fledgling pro soccer team held its first game in the just-completed Willoughby stadium in Langley on May 11, 2023, a photo of Bitar in action against a Calgary Cavalry player

On Monday, Jan. 13, the team announced Bitar was being traded to York United in a deal that will see VFC receive York United鈥檚 first pick in the 2026 CPL-U SPORTS draft.

It follows a second season that saw the new team finish just out of the CPL playoffs after a promising start, and predictions there would be roster changes by team president Rob Friend and coach Afsin Ghotbi, who both told an end-of-season press conference the team will be adding players with playoff experience, while continuing to look for young, local talent to develop as well.

Bitar leaves VFC as their all-time combined goals and assists leader with 16.

The Carleton Raven alumni joined the Eagles after playing for CPL outfits Cavalry FC and FC Edmonton prior to VFC鈥檚 inaugural 2023 season.

He isn't the only player to be offloaded by VFC, with the club confirming it has declined the 2025 options on contracts for defenders Kadin Chung and Anthony White as well as for midfielders Renan Garcia, Olivier Rommens and Zachary Verhoven.

The club also confirmed free agents Rocco Romeo and Austin Ricci will not return to the club in 2025. 

Vancouver FC now has 12 players signed to its 2025 roster: goalkeepers Niko Giantsopoulos and Callum Irving, defenders Elage Bah, Paris Gee, and David Norman Jr., midfielders: Ben Fisk, Vasco Fry, Grady McDonnell and TJ Tahid, along with forwards Mikael Cantave, Alejandro D矛az, and Jos茅 Navarro.

A VFC press release said the team will announce further roster updates in the coming days.