The Colombian forward has scored and assisted on more goals than any other member of the Vancouver Whitecaps since 2020.
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The Colombian Connection will go on for a while yet.
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Cristian Dájome, whose performances on the field have been bulwarked by his impact off of it, signed a contract extension with the Vancouver Whitecaps on Wednesday in a deal that will keep him in the Pacific Northwest through 2024, with a club option for 2025. Terms of the deal weren’t publicly released, but the Colombian national was on the books for $448,000 US in 2021.
Coming to Vancouver in 2020 from Ecuadorian club Independiente del Valle — whom he helped to a historic CONMEBOL Copa Sudamericana championship the previous season — Dájome’s tenure with the Caps got off to a slow start, but once he settled and was reunited with family, he blossomed as a player.
His 16 goals, 11 assists and 64 appearances since 2020 are the most on the team — including career highs of 12 goals and six assists in 2021 — but the 28-year-old has also provided mentorship to many of the younger South American players, including fellow Colombian Deiber Caicedo.
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“Since arriving at the club, Cristian has proven to be an impact player in various positions and has taken on a larger mentorship role in the locker room, especially with our younger South American players,” Caps president and sporting director Axel Schuster said in a release.
“Cristian was in the final year of his contract and we are now excited to confirm he will be with us for a number of years. We look forward to seeing him continue his growth as a leader in our group on and off the pitch. ”
Dájome made the switch to wingback at the end of last season, a new position for the forward/winger, but has still maintained his production, with a goal and assist through the first five games. Last year, I have led the Caps in shots (56), duels won (216, sixth in MLS), and touches (1,530) while being named to the MLS Team of the Week four times. He has had a goal against Sporting Kansas City in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, as well as a goal and an assist in the Canadian Championship.
The Whitecaps travel to Montreal to take on Club De Foot on Saturday at noon PT.
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