OTTAWA – Ottawa Fury FC announced on Wednesday it had signed Canadian defender David Edgar to bolster the club’s backline as it pursues a place in the 2018 USL Cup Playoffs. A Canadian international with extensive experience in the top leagues of the world, Edgar will bring more depth and versatility to Fury FC’s backline.

“From playing with David in the National Team to now, I’ve been able to see how he’s grown into a mature and responsible leader,” said Fury FC General Manager Julian de Guzman. “He understands the situation Canada is in in terms of professional soccer and what we’re trying to do here for the city, for the country, and he supports it. That’s a huge bonus, and the game-changing reason why it makes sense to bring a guy like him, with his qualities – as a defender, as a player, as a leader – and David Edgar could be a great representative of what ‘The Project’ represents.”

A steady center back also capable of playing right back and defensive midfield, Edgar left his native Ontario at age 14 to join Newcastle United's academy. He went on to log more than a decade in the English leagues – with the likes of Newcastle United, Burnley FC, Swansea City, Birmingham City and Sheffield United – with 211 appearances, almost 16,000 minutes played and nine goals in England’s top divisions.

A free agent after parting ways with Birmingham City at the conclusion of the 2015/16 English Championship season, he joined Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the 2016 summer transfer window after training with them during their road trip in Toronto, Ontario. He made eight regular season appearances – all starts – in his first season at BC Place, but missed the entire 2017 MLS season due to injury. The 6-foot-4 defender, now fully back to health, most recently spent some time with Nashville SC in the USL where he played five matches before he and the club parted ways at the end of May.

“What is being done here in Ottawa is something that’s been talked about in Canada and throughout North America now,” said Edgar on joining Fury FC. “What the club is trying to do with young Canadian talent is fantastic, it’s great for the country and for the club. I’m really happy to be part of it, happy to be playing football again.”

The Kitchener, Ontario native has made 42 senior international appearances for Canada (37 starts), including the 2013 and 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup squads, and scored three goals. He also served as an alternate captain of the Canada youth national teams that qualified for the 2003 and 2005 FIFA World Youth Championships, as well as the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

“I had a great week here, got to meet everyone, lots of familiar faces,” added Edgar. “It’s a very good group, a very hard-working group from what I’ve seen this week, and the coaching has been fantastic since I’ve been here.”