

Posted by

Steve Bottjer ,

March 16, 2014 Email

Steve Bottjer

On Twitter:

@BottjerRNO

The Ottawa Fury announced the signing of the club’s ninth Canadian player on Thursday, with the signing of defender Mason Trafford.



Trafford joins from Chinese League One side Guizhou Zhicheng, pending international transfer.



The Canadian International will add both experience and versatility to a back line that already contains two other young Canadian defenders in Andres Fresenga and Drew Beckie. A left footed player, the 27 year old began his professional career with the Vancouver Whitecaps and would eventually spend two-and-a-half years in the Finnish Premier League with IFK Mariehamn. Following his stint in the Veikkausliiga, he played in China. Trafford can play as both a left back and as a central defender, where he played most recently with Guizhou Zhicheng and where he assumed a leadership role as one of the foreign imports on the club’s roster.



See also: Trafford buoyed by experience playing in China



"After spending the last four seasons abroad, I am extremely excited and honored to be returning to North America and play in my Nation's capital," said Trafford. "I have followed the club's development over the past months, and I believe Fury FC is building something special in Ottawa, and I am very much looking forward to being a part of that building process."



"Mason will bring experience to our back line," said Head Coach Marc Dos Santos. "We were looking for another left footed defender and we are very happy to count on a player with very good international experience. I'm sure he will bring a lot to the team."



In an interview with RedNation back in November, Trafford spoke of his interest in continuing his playing career in Canada and highlighted Dos Santos in particular as an interesting coach.



A 6'2 defender who was capped for Canada last January when he featured against Denmark, Trafford now joins a squad containing both coaches and players that he will already have familiarity with.



Born in Boynton Beach, FL, Trafford grew up in Vancouver, BC developing with the North Shore Selects and was a member of the provincial team for two years. Trafford would attend the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) where he played alongside Nicki Paterson for three seasons. He would captain the Rebels in his final year before signing with the Vancouver Whitecaps in 2008.



In his two years with the Whitecaps, he would reach the USL Championship in both years - winning in 2008, alongside then teammate Martin Nash, and falling to the Montreal Impact in 2009 who were coached by Marc Dos Santos. He played alongside current teammate Philippe Davies during the 2009 season in Vancouver.