Top Stories

Whitecaps make Jarju first African DP

WhitecapsLogo

No, the first African Designated Player in MLS won't be Didier Drogba.

The Vancouver Whitecaps announced the signing of 24-year-old Gambian forward Mustapha Jarju on Tuesday, making him the first African DP in MLS history.

Jarju, who is also known as Toubabo, most recently played for RAEC Mons, which was just promoted to the top flight in Belgium. He scored 25 goals and had 13 assists in all competitions for Mons in Belgium's second division last season and will look to combine with fellow DP Eric Hassli to spearhead an attack that has scored the third-fewest goals in MLS this season.

The move should also allow manager Tom Soehn to add width to the Vancouver attack by pushing Camilo out to the flanks.

What do you think about the signing of Jarju? Underwhelmed? Excited? Did you get your hopes up for Drogba? Think Jarju will find success in MLS?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Actually, anyone who thinks the salary cap is a “problem” is the problem, that problem being lack of intelligence.

    Reply
  2. Yeah whatever happened to a 17 year old kid in his rookie year, who many thought wouldn’t be able to play a single first team game until his birthday this fall…..

    Reply
  3. The problem isn’t the DP rule — it’s the salary cap. That’s there to keep a lid on expenses…to hold down salaries. Good luck getting the owners to agree to get rid of that….

    Reply
  4. How about Japan, why (outside of Kimura, who went to college here) are we not scoring more J-League talent. Look what happened to Kawgawa and Honda… we need that

    Reply
  5. I think its a good rule, every league has a version of max contracts, and the MLS rule balances the reality that certain teams are in danger of getting priced out of competition w/ the other league reality that the league will stagnate unless major talent is brought in to continuously push the level of competition higher and higher, which will in turn raise revenues… It seems artificial, and it is, but that’s b/c it has to be. Clubs that are richer than the entire MLS organization are going bankrupt right before our eyes, MLS is a forward thinking organization, and I hope it stays that way.

    Reply
  6. Wonder what their paying him? If it’s not alot then it’s probably a good pickup based on his stats, age, and international experience

    Reply
  7. The reason it’s there is to make sure that teams spend money responsibly, since only a few of the clubs are profitable. Once MLS rises in terms of revenue, no doubt the DP rule will be abolished but until then it is probably necessary to keep the league stable.

    Reply
  8. Can we please get rid of the DP rule and let teams sign whoever they want? Its true that not every team has the pull of LA or NY or the rabid fan base as the three Pacific Northwest teams. But there are at least 6-8 teams, through either market size, fan base or both, who probably would spend more money to bring quality to the field if the weren’t restricted by the DP rule and cap (and I’m not counting the eventual Cosmos). I’ll take that league — it’d still be more competitive overall than Spain or many other countries (not as good, but more competitive). Jarju sounds like a nice find, but calling a unknown second-division Belgium league player a “major” signing or putting him into the same false category as Henry or Beckham is silly. Let’s have 15 of those like him around the league and have it be a “regular” signing. Leave the “major” announcements for major players.

    Reply
  9. I mean a DP should be a start you can build a team around, but let’s be honest, it’s also about putting a$$es$ in $eat$ (see Beckham and Henry). If your DP can’t do that, you should have an option to waive your DP and lot that “overage” to your overall roster. Real Salt Lake Dallas and Colorado are all pretty good examples of what a little extra cash to the overall roster would do.

    Reply
  10. I think it’s great that MLS is using DP money to attract players who are in the beginning two thirds of their career, but it makes me wonder if we wouldn’t bet better served spending that kind of cash to make the average wage for non DP players a little more tolerable…

    Reply
  11. Is that some kind of dig against Soehn? Did he say Omar was world-class when they drafted him super early? Cause I know from the tons of comments you’ve left here or at the Post that you’re not actually that naive.

    Reply
  12. “Worth DP money”?? Let’s say he’s getting $500k, like Boskovic is doing with DC. That would put him at the low end of the pay scale in the EPL, and wouldn’t entice a lot of players to leave teams in Italy, Spain, Germany, France and Holland.

    Reply
  13. wow….

    Your comments are misdirected. Whitecaps simply made a signing and an announcement. The excitement came from some reporter on twitter and from message boards, where people simply starting naming the names of any and all African players they’ve ever heard of.

    Reply
  14. You know what DPs make? At least $335k. How many top-flight players in Europe make that little? Just because Beckham and Henry came over as DPs doesn’t mean every DP will have that kind of pedigree. Becks and Henry cost their teams millions each year (the league only covers that first $335k) — I’m sure Jarju isn’t getting that kind of bank.

    Reply
  15. What was the tease? Yesterday’s simple statement that a player/roster announcement would be made today?
    What was the big deal being made? Today’s press release and subsequent press conference?
    If that’s the case, you sure are easily teased and impressed.

    Reply
  16. I’m not sure that you’ve fully grasped the definition of the word “arrogant”. Because the act of signing a player and issuing a press release isn’t arrogant. If the Whitecaps were to issue a press release stating, “We are the best football club ever.” then your claim of arrogance would be justified.

    Reply
  17. I confess that I don’t know that for sure, I’m only assuming it to be a similar case to Fabian Castillo. Regardless, it is a great tool and signing players like Castillo, Montero and possibly Jarju that are young, hungry and talented can only be good for the league.

    Reply
  18. Udoh did not have “us” believing Drogba. He had YOU believing Drogba. No one with a brain actually thought there was any chance of it being Drogba.

    Reply
  19. +1 In a best case scenario, a team should probably use one slot for a “draw” who can still play (gotta pay the bills) and the other slot for a promising talent.

    Reply
  20. I think most people will agree that there is certainly value in the older guys. Most are just glad to see that MLS is using the DP rule to attract younger talent that can stay in this league for a while and grow with it as well. I think a nice balance should be struck between aging stars and up and comers. This allows for veteran experience to come in and help young American players while at the same time growing the league by bringing in exciting young talent that will attract attention from big clubs globaly.

    It is great to see clubs use the DP tag in advantageous ways asside from paying one old player a big paycheck for his last few seasons.

    Reply

Leave a Comment