THE CANADIAN PRESS
VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Whitecaps signed striker Long Tan and defender-midfielder Blake Wagner on Friday.
Coach Teitur Thordarson said the moves were made with an eye on the Whitecaps’ future.
"They are both still young players that are developing," Thordarson said in a release.
"Long Tan is a different type of striker. He is difficult to handle because he works very hard and he is technically sound. Blake has played in MLS. He is technically very good and tactically getting better."
The Whitecaps play their final exhibition game Saturday at Empire Field against defending MLS champion Colorado Rapids.
Vancouver plays its first MLS regular-season game next Saturday at home against Canadian rival Toronto FC.
Wagner, 23, spent last season in Vancouver when the Whitecaps played in the United States Soccer Federation Division 2.
The left-sided winger from Tampa Bay, Fla., played in 19 games, registering four goals and one assist. Wagner spent four seasons in MLS with FC Dallas, who selected the winger 18th overall in the 2006 SuperDraft as a Generation Adidas player.
Tan, 22, a native of Dalian, China, becomes the first Chinese-born player to sign in MLS. The Whitecaps acquired his rights last July in a trade with FC Tampa Bay of the USSF D-2.
Tan started 22 of 25 appearances for Tampa Bay, recording three goals and two assists.