Whitecaps defender Adekugbe's injury suffered on Canada duty diagnosed as torn Achilles

Neil Davidson · The Canadian Press

· Posted: Jun 12, 2025 6:44 PM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hr ago

Vancouver Whitecaps defender Sam Adekugbe tore his Achilles tendon with Canada astatine the Canadian Shield Tournament and has been replaced by Sporting Kansas City's Zorhan Bassong connected Jesse Marsch's CONCACAF Gold Cup roster.

Adekugbe had to beryllium helped disconnected the tract aft going down with an evident non-contact wounded successful the 81st infinitesimal of the punishment shootout nonaccomplishment to Ivory Coast connected Tuesday astatine Toronto's BMO Field.

In announcing the wounded quality Thursday, Canada Soccer said Adekugbe has returned to the Whitecaps "who volition find adjacent steps on with the player."

It's the latest wounded setback for the 30-year-old Adekugbe, who has won 43 caps for Canada and was portion of the 2022 World Cup squad.

He near the Whitecaps' March 2 crippled against the Los Angeles Galaxy with a limb injury, missing the adjacent 12 games until returning April 27 against Minnesota.

WATCH | Canada falls to Ivory Coast connected penalties, wins Canadian Shield Tournament connected points:

Adekugbe, who returned to the Whitecaps successful 2023, had antecedently been sidelined by sidelined by calf and genu problems.

"Sam has demonstrated tremendous dedication and resilience successful his travel backmost to afloat fitness, which makes this setback adjacent much heartbreaking," Whitecaps sporting manager Axel Schuster said successful a connection Thursday. "He'll request clip to process this moment, and passim his recovery, he'll person the unwavering enactment of everyone astatine the club.

Adekugbe has scored 3 goals successful 12 appearances for Vancouver crossed each competitions this year.

Adekugbe came backmost to Canada aft escaping earthquake-ravaged Antakya successful Turkey, wherever helium had been playing for Hatayspor. He joined the Turkish Super Lig squad successful June 2021 from Norway's Valerenga Fotball.

Born successful London, England, helium was 3 erstwhile his household moved to Manchester and 10 erstwhile it came to Calgary.

At 16, helium moved to Vancouver to articulation the Whitecaps residency program. He signed a homegrown declaration with the MLS squad successful 2013 but made conscionable 16 appearances for the squad implicit the adjacent 4 seasons, spending overmuch of the clip retired connected loan.

Adekugbe had loans stints with Brighton successful the English Championship and Sweden's IFK Goteborg earlier joining Valerenga successful January 2018.