VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced Thursday that the club has acquired Uruguayan striker Octavio Rivero from Chile's Primera Division side O'Higgins FC.
Rivero, 22, joins Whitecaps FC following six months with O'Higgins FC. The six-foot-two, 180-pounder led the Rancagua-based club in scoring with 10 goals— good for fifth overall in the league— in 16 league appearances during the Torneo Apertura.
"We are thrilled to welcome Octavio to our club," said Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson. "We continue to build the squad, and Octavio is another piece to the puzzle. His skill set fits well with the way we want to play."
"I'm very happy to come to Vancouver to be a part of this great club and beautiful city," said Rivero. "BC Place is a wonderful stadium with an amazing atmosphere. I will give my all for the club and fans."
Prior to his transfer to Chile, Rivero played with Montevideo-based clubs Defensor Sporting, Central Espanol FC, and CA Rentistas.
In 2008, at the age of 16, Rivero joined the youth set-up of Defensor Sporting before moving over to Central Espanol FC for the 2012-13 season. In his first season as a professional, Rivero scored three goals in 18 matches with Central Espanol FC. The following season he joined CA Rentistas and scored 10 goals in 17 appearances.
Internationally, Rivero has represented Uruguay at the U-17 level, playing at both the 2009 Copa UC tournament and the 2009 South American U-17 Football Championship, where he played with current Whitecaps FC midfielder Nicolas Mezquida.
Rivero is expected to arrive in Vancouver and be formally introduced in the new year.