Winger Marco Bustos rejoins CPL's Pacific FC after two seasons in Sweden

Marco Bustos, a nominee for the Canadian Premier League's Player of the Year Award in 2020, has rejoined Pacific FC after two years in Sweden with Varnamo.

The 28-year-old winger from Winnipeg, who has won six caps for Canada, has signed a contract that runs through 2026.

"Marco is a player I’ve known for a long time now," Pacific coach James Merriman said in a statement. "We know his motivation, his ambition and the standards that he brings to our team. He’s a player with more than 200 professional games now coming into his prime."

In other CPL news, York United FC announced that left back Orlando Botello will be back this season on loan from Mexico's CF Monterrey.

Bustos originally joined Pacific in Match 2020 after making 25 appearances in all competitions for his hometown Valour FC in 2019. He scored 15 goals in 63 appearances in all competitions in his first go-round with Pacific, helping the Tridents to the 2021 CPL title.

He is the second former player to rejoin Pacific this week, following defender Kadin Chung.

Bustos joined the Vancouver Whitecaps academy in 2011 at the age of 15. He made his pro debut with the Whitecaps in 2014, spending time with both the first team and Whitecaps II before going on loan to Mexico’s Zacatepec FC.

He left the Whitecaps in 2018 to play a season in the USL with OKC Energy.

The 23-year-old Botello appeared in 27 games for York and scored in a penalty shootout in a playoff loss to Athletic Ottawa.

"Orlando contributed heavily last season and he was an immensely consistent presence," York president Ricardo Pasquel said in a statement. “His profile is a great fit for us and he’s exactly what we like in a fullback — quick, resolute and a bundle of energy."

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 24, 2025.

The Canadian Press