Surrey-raised midfielder Jeevan Badwal is among the Vancouver Whitecaps FC players recognized at the club’s 2024 Player Awards on November 1.

Badwal, 18, earned WFC2 Player of the Year honors for his strong season with the reserve soccer team, whose coaching staff presented him with the award.

After graduating from the Whitecaps FC BMO Academy, Badwal made big strides in 2024 when he signed his first professional contract ahead of his second season with Whitecaps FC 2 (WFC2) in MLS NEXT Pro, helping the team to secure its first playoff appearance.

Badwal scored his first two professional goals during the season for WFC2, adding one assist and 11 key passes. Among players with five or more appearances, he led the team with a passing percentage of 87.9.

In July, Badwal made his first team debut for Whitecaps FC, coming on as a second-half substitute in the first leg of the Canadian Championship semi-final at Pacific FC. Two months later, he signed an MLS contract as a local player.

“I’m very excited for this moment,” Badwal said in September. “It (signing an MLS contract) means a lot to my family and I, especially after attending the academy of the club I grew up with and I’m really excited to get started. I want to thank the supporters for all their support, I can’t wait to play in front of them and show my qualities on the pitch.

At the international level, Badwal started seven of Canada’s eight matches during the 2024 Concacaf U-20 Championship qualifiers and tournaments.

Earlier in his football career, Badwal played for Coastal FC, Surrey FC, Supra Academy and BEST Academy.

A lifelong resident of the Newton area, Badwal attended Tamanawis Secondary School for Grade 8 before transferring to University Hill Secondary School in Vancouver, home to Whitecaps academy players.