Club Brugge shop abroad again as “wonderkid” nears academy move

Club Brugge have made waves on the North American continent, as the Blauw-zwart’s development side look set to sign Grady McDonnell (16) from Vancouver FC.

The gifted Canadian-born Irish youth international is rumoured to have set the NXT side back €350,00 and will arrive as the second-most expensive transfer in Canadian Premier League history.

The adept midfielder McDonnell previously completed a two-week internship in Knokke-Heist before the New Year and now looks ahead to switch Canada for Belgium in the next phase of his development.

McDonnell’s Club Brugge move comes as an exciting time for Canadian football

According to an exclusive Transfermarkt profile, McDonnell is “a box-to-box midfielder (who) models his game after England star Jude Bellingham”, with the player himself explaining:

“It is his all-around game. Offensively, defensively, he does everything. He is a lot better than me (laughs) I’m a humble guy, and I just want to keep my head down and work hard. There is still work to do.”

McDonnell’s impending transfer adds to an emerging trend between the Canadian Premier League and Belgian clubs. The aforementioned transfer record was set last season as Forge FC sold forward Kwasi Poku to Belgian second-division side RWD Molenbeek for €500,000.

Although the innate skill and work rate of the next Canadian generation is admirable, the ever-increasing moves abroad say a lot about the league they’re in. Talking about the team at Vancouver FC, McDonnell continued:

“They are pushing us. Their motto is to help young players and improve them. They want to make a profit by selling us. But they are also the ones developing us.”

Canada or Ireland? McDonnell yet to decide

The CPL has seen graduates not only move on to bigger competitions but also become full Canadian internationals. The two best examples are Lukas MacNaughton and Joel Waterman.

Pacific FC sold MacNaughton to Toronto FC, from where he was traded to Nashville and then D.C. United. During his time in MLS, he has been on and off the national team. Waterman has featured for Canada after he was sold by Cavalry to CF Montréal. Poku received a call-up to the national team after his transfer to Belgium.

While these instances are slightly different for McDonnell, who has so far represented Ireland at U17 level, there is a chance that he can make more of a name for himself on the international scene. Speaking of his allegiance, the teen explained:

“Honestly, I just want to keep my mind open. I haven’t committed myself to a country yet, and I just want to focus on what is in front of me here and hopefully get a senior call-up soon.

“(Canada have) a great association, and the improvements over the years have been very exciting.”

(Interview/profile sourced from Transfermarkt. Images: the Canadian Premier League)

GBeNeFN | Max Bradfield