Vancouver Whitecaps will have the right to sign Andre Lewis despite the fact he penned a deal with the New York Cosmos late last year.
The 19-year old Jamaican midfielder was selected by the Whitecaps with the seventh overall selection at the 2014 MLS SuperDraft last week but unbeknown to the Canadian club, he had agreed a deal with the Cosmos, who won the North American Soccer League title in their debut campaign last season.
Even though Lewis was poised to join the Cosmos, MLS vice-president of player personnel Lino DiCuollo told MLSsoccer.com that the Whitecaps should be fine to secure his services.
"MLS has an agreement with Lewis and the Cosmos for him to join MLS and Vancouver provided certain conditions are met," DiCuollo said.
"In the event the Whitecaps want to retain the player, as of the roster compliance date (March 1), then he will be with them on a loan or after a transfer from the Cosmos."
