VANCOUVER – UBC Thunderbirds defender Jordan Haynes has signed a contract with the Canadian Premier League's Pacific Football Club, based in Greater Victoria, British Columbia.

Haynes, a left back from Selwyn, Ont., was a standout at both ends of the field for UBC this past season, earning second-team Canada West all-star honours. His dangerous left foot made him a constant offensive threat, especially on set pieces. Haynes led the T-Birds with seven assists, the second most in the conference.

His performance helped UBC win its third consecutive Canada West championship, and a berth to the U SPORTS national tournament.
 

"I'm extremely grateful and excited to be able to get the opportunity to play professionally again with Pacific FC," said Haynes upon inking his new deal. "Especially after my last three years of tough times mentally and physically. UBC was great for me as a player, but more importantly, as a person. It gave me a glimpse of what "real" life is like, and helped me grow." 

Haynes, 24, joined the T-Birds in 2019 after competing for Vancouver's TSS Rovers of USL League Two. Before that, he won the PDL (now USL League Two) championship with Calgary Foothills in 2018, alongside UBC teammate Jackson Farmer.

Haynes spent 2015 and 2016 with the Whitecaps FC 2, appearing in 29 games. He played for the Whitecaps FC U-23 team in 2014, the Oklahoma City Energy U23 (USL League Two) and Vaughan Azzurri (League1 Ontario) in 2017 before making the move to Calgary Foothills.

After playing for various youth clubs in his home province of Ontario, as well as the Toronto FC Academy in 2011, he moved to Vancouver as a teenager and was part of the Whitecaps FC Academy from 2011-14.
 

In 2013, Haynes played for Canada's under-17 national team, which competed at the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates. He got to represent his country again two years later as part of the Canadian U-20 squad at the 2015 CONCACAF U-20 Championship.

"We are certainly very happy for Jordan to have achieved his goal of a CPL contract and we wish him the best in this next step," said UBC head coach Mike Mosher. "Huge credit goes to Jordan as he has put in a lot of hard work through many years and made several sacrifices along the way to get to this stage. Hopefully the CPL can be up and running soon and we can watch Jordan in action at this next level of play."

The CPL hopes to have a 2020 season, and Pacific FC resumed preparations for it early last month.
 

"Jordan deserves this contract for the work he has put in and the attitude he has shown towards the club..."

Pacific FC signs defender Jordan Haynes: https://t.co/zglV24IKTe#WelcomeJordan #PacificFC #CanPL

— Pacific FC (@Pacificfccpl) July 15, 2020

Haynes joins another former Thunderbird, Zach Verhoven, on the PFC roster. Verhoven made 24 total appearances for the team in 2019, his first season as a professional.