The transfer of 16-year-old Grady McDonnell to Club Brugge has been confirmed by Vancouver FC. Club Brugge is paying a fee of up to €350,000 including add-ons, which is a record for the Canadian club. McDonnell is an Irish Canadian central midfielder with a market value of €200,000 and had a contract with Vancouver until 2026. He is seen as a major talent and will strengthen Club NXT in the Challenger Pro League. The formal announcement is expected on Friday.

Club Brugge has demonstrated significant interest in Grady McDonnell, a 16-year-old Irish youth international currently playing in Vancouver, Canada, according to various Belgian sources. The club is reportedly preparing to pay a few hundred thousand euros to secure the young talent from Canada, with the transfer fee estimated to be around 200 thousand euros. McDonnell, recognized as an emerging talent, is expected to join Club NXT once all necessary paperwork is completed. This transfer was first reported by Fabrizio Romano and elaborated on by Het Nieuwsblad and Het Laatste Nieuws.

Club Brugge is on the verge of signing Grady McDonnell, a 16-year-old midfielder from Vancouver FC. McDonnell, who participated in seventeen matches in the Canadian Premier League last season and provided two assists, will be transferred for €350,000 plus bonuses. This transaction makes him the most expensive outgoing transfer in the history of Vancouver FC. Initially, McDonnell is set to join Club NXT, the second team of Club Brugge, to acclimate to Belgian football. Although born in Canada, McDonnell plays for the Irish national youth teams. This transfer signifies Vancouver FC's first European and record transfer. The move underscores Club Brugge's ongoing interest in the North American market, following their previous acquisitions from the MLS.