Midfield addition

THE CANADIAN PRESS

VANCOUVER -- The Vancouver Whitecaps added midfielder Jun Marques Davidson to the Major League Soccer club's roster Thursday.

The move for the player who spent last season in Japan is pending receipt of his international transfer certificate and visa.

Davidson played one season under new Whitecaps head coach Martin Rennie with the Carolina RailHawks.

"Jun is one of the most technically gifted players that I have coached," said Rennie in a statement. "He's a defensive-minded midfielder with a strong pedigree of quality and experience after playing in the Japanese J.League for a number of years.

"His passing awareness and ability to break up play in the middle is tremendous. He will be a great addition to the group."

A dual American/Japanese citizen, Davidson comes to the Whitecaps after playing the 2011 season with J.League Division Two side Tokushima Vortis. The six-foot-one, 165-pounder started 19 of his 25 appearances last season in his club finish near the top of the standings.

Davidson spent the 2010 season playing for Rennie at Carolina RailHawks in the United States Soccer Federation Division-2 Professional League.

International transfer certificates are required by FIFA -- world soccer's governing body -- when a player moves from one association to another. A player may not be registered in the new league without the approval of their former association.