Pacific FC has added Canadian defender Joshua Belluz, a 6’5” centre back who arrives on the Island with a strong combination of collegiate pedigree and professional experience ahead of the 2026 season.
Born on April 4, 2001, and a native of Toronto, Ontario, Belluz developed in one of the country’s top youth environments with Vaughan Azzurri, where he began building a reputation as a composed, athletic defender with a strong aerial presence. He gained early senior experience with Vaughan’s first team in League1 Ontario from 2017 to 2019, before returning to the club again in 2023.
Belluz took his game to the United States in 2019, committing to Villanova University, where he made an immediate impact during his freshman season. His performances earned him selection to the Philly Soccer Six All-Rookie Team, while his work in the classroom saw him named to the Big East Conference All-Academic Team. His collegiate career continued to trend upward, and in March 2021, Belluz collected further honours, including Big East All-Tournament and All-Philly Soccer Six First Team recognition.
He later transferred to Syracuse University as a graduate student, becoming a key figure for the Orange. During his time at Syracuse, Belluz led the team in minutes played, logging 1,811 minutes, and scored his first goal for the program on August 28 against Binghamton, underlining both his durability and growing influence at the back.
Alongside his collegiate career, Belluz continued to gain valuable club experience. After stints with West Chester United SC in USL League Two during the 2021 and 2022 seasons, he returned to Vaughan Azzurri in 2023 and started in a TELUS Canadian Championship match against Major League Soccer side CF Montréal, marking a significant milestone in his development.
Belluz turned professional in January 2024, signing with Colorado Rapids 2 of MLS Next Pro. He made an immediate impact, scoring on his professional debut in a U.S. Open Cup match on March 21, helping Rapids 2 to a 3-0 victory over Azteca FC. Four days later, he followed that up by scoring his first MLS NEXT Pro league goal against Tacoma Defiance, continuing a strong start to his professional career. Across all competitions, Belluz made 37 appearances for the Rapids.
He also gained further professional experience during the 2024 season while on loan with the USL Championship side Hartford Athletic, making three appearances at the second tier of the American professional game.
“Josh is hungry, dynamic and ambitious in his football. He’s got good athleticism, great size and aerial presence and he’s composed on the ball and looks to play first and break lines,” said James Merriman, Head Coach, Pacific FC. “Josh suits the way we want to play, forward defending, aggressive in the air and can play. We are very happy to have him in our team and expect him to impact immediately.”
Now arriving to the Island, Belluz adds size, athleticism, and composure to Pacific FC’s back line as the club continues to build toward the upcoming Canadian Premier League season.
Current 2026 Pacific FC Roster as of January 15:
Goalkeepers: Sean Melvin, Eleias Himaras
Defenders: Juan Quintana, Kadin Chung, Christian Greco-Taylor, Diego Konincks, Joshua Belluz
Midfielders: Sean Young, Aidan Daniels, Matteo Schiavoni, Sami Keshavarz, Matthew Baldisimo, Roshawn Juhmi, Lukas Browning
Forwards: Marco Bustos, Josh Heard, Ronan Kratt, Alejandro Díaz, Yann Toualy