Karifa Yao

Karifa Yao (born September 28, 2000) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Major League Soccer.

Karifa Yao
Soccer player jogging during warm-up
Yao with Cavalry in 2022
Personal information
Date of birth (2000-09-28) September 28, 2000
Place of birth Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Number 12
Youth career
CS Fabrose
Étoiles de l’Est
2017–2019 Montreal Impact
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2022 CF Montréal[lower-alpha 1] 2 (0)
2021–2022 → Cavalry FC (loan) 49 (1)
2023– Vancouver Whitecaps FC 1 (0)
2023– → Whitecaps FC 2 (loan) 6 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of July 30, 2023

Early life

Yao began playing youth soccer at age seven with CS Fabrose.[1] Afterwards, he joined youth club Étoiles de l’Est.[2] He was also part of the National High Performance Centre.[3] In 2017, he joined the Montreal Impact Academy, playing a year with the U17s, before playing two years with the U19s.[4]

Club career

In June 2019, Yao signed a homegrown contract with Montreal Impact.[5] He made his professional debut on September 20, 2020, appearing as a substitute against the Philadelphia Union.[6]

In February 2021, Yao went on a season-long loan to Canadian Premier League side Cavalry FC.[7][8] On November 20, Yao scored his first professional goal against Pacific FC, netting the equalizer in their 2021 CPL season play-off semi-final, which ultimately ended in a 2-1 defeat for Cavalry.[9][10] He was selected as Cavalry fans’ Player of the Year in 2021.[11] After the 2021 season, Cavalry announced that Yao would leave the club at the end of his loan spell,[12][13] and CF Montréal announced that they would exercise the option on Yao's contract for 2022.[14] In March 2022, he extended his contract with Montreal adding another option year,[15] while also returning to Cavalry on loan for a second season.[16][17] He played a pivotal role for Cavalry, leading all outfield players in minutes played for the team.[18] Over his time with Cavalry, he scored two goals and added two assists in 56 games, across all competitions.[19]

After the 2022 season, his option was declined by Montreal and he departed the club.[20] However, at the 2022 MLS Re-Entry Draft, Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced they had picked up Yao's contract for the 2023 season.[21][22][23] He made his debut for the Whitecaps on March 8 , in a CONCACAF Champions League match against Honduran club Real España.[24]

International career

In March 2015, he was called up to a camp with the Canada U15 team.[1] In April 2017, he was called up to a camp with the Canada U17 team.[1]

Personal life

Yao was born in to an Ivorian father and a Senegalese mother.[25][26]

Career statistics
As of match played May 20, 2023[27]
Club Season League Playoffs Domestic Cup Continental Other Total
Division AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
CF Montréal 2019 MLS 00––––00
2020 2000–00–20
Total 200000000020
Cavalry FC (loan) 2021 CPL 2501120––281
2022 2412020––281
Total 49131400000562
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2023 MLS 100000201040
Whitecaps FC 2 (loan) 2023 MLS Next Pro 600000000060
Career total 58131402010682

Notes
  1. Montreal Impact changed its name to CF Montréal in 2021

References
  1. Karifa Yao at the Canadian Soccer Association
  2. Jacques, John (June 1, 2019). "Montreal Impact Sign Karifa Yao To Homegrown Contract". Northern Tribune.
  3. Gauthier, Audrey (September 22, 2016). "2000$ pour Karifa Yao" [$2000 for Karifa Yao]. Métro (in French).
  4. Lacerte-Gauthier, Félix (June 5, 2019). "Un ancien de Saint-Ex avec l'Impact" [A former Saint-Ex with the Impact]. Métro (in French).
  5. "Centre-back and Impact Academy product Karifa Yao signs with the first team". Montreal Impact. June 4, 2019.
  6. Vance, Paul (February 3, 2021). "Yao & Ferdinand Off on Loan Moves". Mount Royal Soccer.
  7. O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (3 February 2021). "Cavalry FC adds defender Karifa Yao on loan from MLS side CF Montreal". Canadian Premier League.
  8. Jacques, John (February 3, 2021). "CF Montreal Loans Karifa Yao To Cavalry FC". Northern Tribune.
  9. Jacques, John (November 20, 2021). "Pacific Powers Way To 2021 CPL Final". Northern Tribune.
  10. Tierney, Mitchell (October 13, 2022). "'Always, play until the whistle': Karifa Yao and Cavalry FC looking to show they have learned from last year's playoffs". Canadian Premier League.
  11. Rhodes, Benedict (December 17, 2021). "CPL50 – 16. Karifa Yao (Cavalry FC)". Canadian Premier League.
  12. Saelhof, Todd (January 18, 2022). "Replacing major pieces Farsi, Yao, Nash tall order for Cavs". Calgary Herald.
  13. O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (November 25, 2021). "Cavalry FC announce departure of six players including Farsi, Yao". Canadian Premier League.
  14. "CF Montréal exercises options for 12 players". CF Montreal. November 30, 2021.
  15. "CF Montreal sign defenseman Karifa Yao to extension". Sportsnaut. March 18, 2022.
  16. "Cavalry FC add Karifa Yao and Jean-Aniel Assi on loan from CF Montreal". Canadian Premier League. March 18, 2022. Retrieved 2022-03-18.
  17. "Yao 'happy' he's back with Cavalry FC". Calgary Herald. March 19, 2022.
  18. Saelhof, Todd (August 20, 2022). "'Real Karifa Yao' doing really well all over field for Cavalry". Calgary Sun.
  19. Karstens-Smith, Gemma (January 13, 2023). "Canadian defender Yao among fresh faces looking to crack Whitecaps' roster". Toronto Star.
  20. Jacques, John (November 15, 2022). "Yao A Surprise Departure In CF Montreal Roster Update". Northern Tribune.
  21. "Whitecaps FC select former CF Montréal centre back Karifa Yao in Stage 1 of MLS Re-Entry Draft". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. November 17, 2022.
  22. Jacques, John (November 17, 2022). "Whitecaps Recruit CPL Standout Karifa Yao". Northern Tribune.
  23. Tierney, Mitchell (February 21, 2023). "'I improved so much': Karifa Yao on CPL experience ahead of first season with Whitecaps". Canadian Premier League.
  24. Jacques, John (March 9, 2023). "Karifa Yao Makes 'Caps Debut In Champions League". Northern Tribune.
  25. Lévesque, Dave (June 12, 2019). "Karifa Yao: content d'être à la maison" [Karifa Yao: happy to be home]. Le Journal de Montréal (in French).
  26. Téotonio, Jean-François (January 18, 2022). "La COVID-19 force déjà une « prise de conscience »" [COVID-19 is already forcing “awareness”]. La Presse (in French).
  27. Karifa Yao at Soccerway
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