| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | (2004-05-06) May 6, 2004 | ||
| Place of birth | Calgary, Alberta, Canada | ||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||
| Position | Centre-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | HFX Wanderers FC | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2013–2017 | Calgary Blizzard SC | ||
| 2018–2020 | Whitecaps FC Alberta Academy | ||
| 2020–2021 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022–2025 | Whitecaps FC 2 | 44 | (2) |
| 2024 | → Vancouver Whitecaps FC (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 2026– | HFX Wanderers FC | 0 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2023 | New Zealand U20 | 2 | (0) |
| 2023 | New Zealand U23 | 1 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of October 11, 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 10 June 2024 | |||
Finn Linder (born May 6, 2004) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for HFX Wanderers FC. Born in Canada, he represents New Zealand at international level.
Early life
Linder began playing youth soccer with Calgary Blizzard SC at age eight.[1][2] In 2017, he was invited to trial with the English club Wigan's academy program.[3] In December 2017, he was selected to join the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Alberta Academy Centre.[4] He was named to Team Alberta in both 2017 and 2018 where he made the team of distinction.[5] In 2020, he moved to Vancouver to join the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Academy.[1][6]
Club career
In March 2022, Linder signed a professional contract with Whitecaps FC 2 in MLS Next Pro.[7] On June 12, 2022, he scored his first professional goal in a 2-2 draw against the Tacoma Defiance.[8] At the end of the 2022 season, the club picked up his option for the 2023 season.[9] After the 2023 season, he signed an extension for the 2024 season.[10] In 2024, he signed three short-term loans with the Vancouver Whitecaps FC first team.[11][12][13] On July 27, he made his first appearance with the first team in a friendly against Welsh side Wrexham AFC.[14] On August 3, 2024, he made his first team debut in a official match, during a 2024 Leagues Cup match against Mexican side Tijuana.[15] After the 2024 season, his option was picked up for 2025.[16] He missed the 2025 season with an ACL injury.[17]
In January 2026, he signed with Canadian Premier League club HFX Wanderers FC for the 2026 season, with options for 2027 and 2028.[18]
International Career
Born in Canada, Linder has German and New Zealand heritage through his parents.[17]
In March 2023, he was called up to the New Zealand U23 squad for a friendly series against China U23.[19] In May 2023, he was named to the New Zealand U20 squad for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup.[20] He made his debut for the U20s on May 26, in the final group stage match against Argentina U20.[21][22]
Career statistics
- As of October 12, 2024[23]
| Club | Season | League | Playoffs | Domestic Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Whitecaps FC 2 | 2022 | MLS Next Pro | 12 | 1 | – | – | – | 12 | 1 | |||
| 2023 | 10 | 1 | – | – | – | 10 | 1 | |||||
| 2024 | 22 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 23 | 0 | ||||
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 44 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 2 | ||
| Vancouver Whitecaps FC (loan) | 2024 | Major League Soccer | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Career total | 44 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 46 | 2 | ||
- ^ Appearance(s) in Leagues Cup
References
- ^ a b Timko, Brandon (March 30, 2021). "Alberta players proving their mettle in Whitecaps FC BMO MLS Academy". Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
- ^ "Obelisq signs Finn Linder". Obelisq. March 2, 2023.
- ^ "Blizzard Boys Train at Wigan FC Academy in UK". Calgary Blizzard SC. 23 August 2017.
- ^ "Blizzard Players Selected for Higher Level Playing Opportunities". Calgary Blizzard SC. December 11, 2017.
- ^ "Alberta Players of Distinction" (PDF). Alberta Soccer. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
- ^ Healey, Josh (January 12, 2026). "Sources: Defender Finn Linder set to sign for Wanderers". HFX Football Post.
- ^ "WFC2 add five teenagers from Whitecaps FC BMO Academy". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. 16 March 2022.
- ^ Pereira, Sebastian (June 12, 2022). "WFC2 battle to 2-2 draw against Cascadia rivals Tacoma Defiance, fall 4-2 in shootout". Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
- ^ "Whitecaps FC 2 announce end of season roster decisions". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. November 18, 2022.
- ^ "Whitecaps FC roster updates from first team and WFC2". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. November 17, 2023.
- ^ "Six WFC2 players signed to MLS short-term agreements". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. July 26, 2024.
- ^ "Whitecaps FC sign WFC2 defender Finn Linder and midfielder Eliot Goldthorp to second MLS short-term agreements". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. August 2, 2024.
- ^ "Whitecaps FC sign WFC2 defender Finn Linder to third MLS short-term agreement". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. August 6, 2024.
- ^ Burns, Alistair (July 27, 2024). "Bovalina scores a thunderbolt". Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
- ^ Vallejo, Felipe (August 4, 2024). "Moving on to the next round!". Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
- ^ "Whitecaps FC announce 2025 WFC2 roster updates". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. December 11, 2024.
- ^ a b Healey, Josh (January 16, 2026). "Wanderers tap into MLS Next Pro talent with Linder, Olguin signings". HFX Football Post.
- ^ "Wanderers sign former Whitecaps defender Finn Linder". HFX Wanderers FC. 14 January 2026.
- ^ "Linder, Herdman called up to New Zealand U-23 national team". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. 1 March 2023.
- ^ "Linder and Herdman named to New Zealand's FIFA U-20 World Cup roster". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. May 2, 2023.
- ^ "U-20s defeated by hosts Argentina". New Zealand Football. 27 May 2023.
- ^ Robinson, Nick (29 May 2023). "Aotearoa at the 2023 men's U20 World Cup: Compelte fustigation vs Argentina". The Niche Cache.
- ^ Finn Linder at Soccerway
