Ryan Gauld

Ryan Stewart Gauld (born 16 December 1995) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Major League Soccer club Vancouver Whitecaps.

In 2002, Gauld began to play for Brechin City Boys Club (now renamed Brechin City Youths), where he was part of a successful team alongside John Souttar and Euan Spark.

The trio also developed their skills at coaching schools run in Dundee by Ian Cathro, before they all joined Dundee United's youth system in 2006 at the age of nine.

Gauld made his Scottish Premier League debut as a 16-year-old, as an 87th-minute substitute for Johnny Russell in the final match of the 2011–12 season, a 2–0 win away to Motherwell on 13 May.

Later on in the 2012–13 season, on 1 April, he made his first start against St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park and marked the occasion with his first senior goal to open a game which ended 1–1.

On 24 January 2013, Gauld signed an extended contract keeping him at the club until January 2016.

On 4 November 2013, during the 2013–14 season, Gauld's contract was further extended, to run until May 2016.

Five days later, he scored twice in a 4–0 win against Motherwell at Fir Park.

On 15 December 2013, the Daily Record reported that Manchester United's Scottish manager David Moyes wanted to personally "scout" Gauld, and take the opportunity to run the rule over the potential of other young Dundee United players such as defenders John Souttar and Andrew Robertson.

He began his professional career at Dundee United, where he helped them reach the 2014 Scottish Cup Final, and his abilities on the ball earned comparisons to Lionel Messi from the Scottish media.

In July 2014, he transferred to Portuguese club Sporting CP for a fee of around £3 million.

Gauld mainly appeared for the club's B team, and was also loaned to Vitória de Setúbal, Aves, Farense and Hibernian.

He was called up to the senior squad for the first time in September 2014.

Gauld grew up in Laurencekirk, Aberdeenshire, where he attended Laurencekirk Primary before becoming a pupil at Mearns Academy.

On 12 April 2014, Gauld played in the Scottish Cup semi-final at Ibrox, as United defeated Rangers 3–1 to advance to the Final.

He made the run into the penalty area from which Stuart Armstrong scored the opening goal, and assisted the second from Gary Mackay-Steven.

Five days later, he was shortlisted for the PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year award, which was eventually awarded to his teammate Robertson.

In the Cup Final on 17 May, Gauld replaced Mackay-Steven for the final 26 minutes as Dundee United lost 2–0 to St Johnstone at Celtic Park.

Gauld's season ended with eight goals in 38 games across all competitions, of which six were scored in his 31 league matches.

On 2 July 2014, Sporting CP announced the signing of Gauld from Dundee United, for an undisclosed fee rumoured to be in the region of £3 million.

He signed a six-year contract with a €60 million buy-out clause.

He credited Sporting's track record of developing players such as Luís Figo, Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani for his decision to join them.

Despite being put into the club's B-team, Gauld was named in the 25-man squad to play in the UEFA Champions League after impressing manager Marco Silva during training sessions.

He made his debut for Sporting B on 10 August 2014, replacing João Palhinha at half time in a 1–0 defeat away to Farense.

Seventeen days later, in his fourth match for the club, he scored for the first time, netting the second in a 3–0 home victory over Aves.

On 7 December, he scored a second goal, opening a 4–3 win at Lisbon neighbours Oriental with a 20-yard volley.

On 21 December, he was sent off for two bookings in a 3–1 triumph at Vitória de Guimarães B.

Gauld made his debut for the first team on 29 December 2014 in a Taça da Liga game against Vitória de Guimarães, playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–0 win.

He finished the season with three goals from 26 games for the B-team, the third coming on 7 February 2015, when he equalised as the team came from behind to win 2–1 against Olhanense.

On his second start for the Sporting first team on 14 January 2015, Gauld was named man of the match in a 1–0 win in the same competition, against Boavista.

Having been fouled by goalkeeper Daniel Monllor, he won the penalty converted by Junya Tanaka for the only goal.

Four days later, he made his Primeira Liga debut, replacing André Martins for the last 25 minutes of a 4–2 win over Rio Ave at the Estádio José Alvalade.

Gauld scored twice for the first team in a 3–2 defeat away to neighbours Belenenses in a Taça da Liga group game on 21 January.

In his second season in the Portuguese capital, Gauld scored his first goal of the B-team's campaign on 26 August 2015, the only one of the away match at Covilhã in the 84th minute.

He followed this on 12 September with a strike in a 4–0 triumph at Oriental.

However, the following day, also his 18th birthday, Gauld's contract was further extended until May 2017.

Around the same time, he was being tracked by English Premier League pair Everton and Liverpool, Italy's Roma and Spain's Real Madrid.

In July 2019, Gauld moved to Farense on a permanent basis, winning promotion in his first season and scoring nine goals in each of his two years.

In July 2021, he signed for MLS club Vancouver Whitecaps, where he won the Canadian Championship in 2022 and 2023.

Gauld has represented Scotland at under-19 and under-21 levels.