By The Canadian Press

Whitecaps acquire midfielder/forward Aziel Jackson on loan from Polish club

Jan 30, 2026 | 1:57 PM

VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Whitecaps have acquired attacking midfielder/forward Aziel Jackson on loan from Polish side Jagiellonia Bialystok through June 2026, the Major League Soccer club announced Friday.

The loan agreement includes an option to purchase. Jackson will officially join the club pending receipt of his international transfer certificate, work permit, and medical.

Also Friday, the Whitecaps re-signed Canadian centre back Belal Halbouni, 26, to a new contract through June 2027, with a club option for the 2027-28 Major League Soccer season.

Halbouni started 19 matches in 26 appearances across all competitions for Vancouver and was part of back-to-back Canadian Championship titles in 2024 and 2025.

The 25-year-old Jackson from West Orange, N.J., made 11 appearances across all competitions for Bialystok, competing in the top level of Polish soccer and the UEFA Conference League.

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He joined Bialystok after spending a season and a half in MLS with Columbus, helping the Crew to the Leagues Cup 2024 title.

Jackson started 14 of his 31 appearances across all competitions for the Crew, recording four goals and five assists.

He has also spent time with St. Louis and Minnesota in MLS, and played in France as a youth with the under-17 side of Toulouse FC and fourth-tier Blagnac FC.

Jackson has made one appearance for the United States men’s national team as a substitute in a friendly against Slovenia in January 2024, joining Whitecaps striker Brian White on the roster.

“Aziel is a player we are very familiar with from his time in the league, and he understands the demands of MLS,” Whitecaps sporting director Axel Schuster said in a release. “He is a dynamic, versatile attacker who will provide another option going forward. Aziel will join the camp in Spain in the coming days, and we look forward to welcoming him into our environment.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 30, 2026.

The Canadian Press