Valour FC announced Wednesday morning that the club has signed Canadian midfielder Kianz Froese for the remainder of the 2025 Canadian Premier League season, with an option for 2026.
The 29-year-old was born in Havana, Cuba and moved to Winnipeg at the age of one. He has played professionally both in Canada and overseas in Germany, and now returns to represent his hometown in the Canadian Premier League. He will be able to line up for Valour in a variety of positions, having played both as an attacking midfielder and a striker in the course of his career.
“Coming home to Winnipeg feels full circle,” said Froese. “I have so many connections here and cherish memories within this community and with friends. To return now, with everything I’ve learned and experienced along the way, is something I’m truly proud of. I want to help push this club forward – on the field, in the locker room and in the community.”
Froese's pro career began in 2014 with the Vancouver Whitecaps, where he made his first-team debut after joining the club's residency program two years prior. He went on to make 24 total appearances for the club, including 15 in Major League Soccer and five in the Concacaf Champions League. He scored his first professional goal for the Whitecaps in June 2015, burying late in a 2-1 win over the Jesse Marsch-coached New York Red Bulls.
In 2017, Froese transferred to German second-division side Fortuna Düsseldorf and played several years with their second team, before stints with FC Saarbrücken, TSV Havelse and Wehen Wiesbaden. With the latter club, Froese was a key player in the 2022-23 season that saw Wehen earn promotion to the 2. Bundesliga, and he would go on to make 22 appearances in the German second tier the following year.
At the international level, Froese originally played for Cuba's U-17 side but switched to Canada and represented the country at the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup. At that tournament, he appeared in all three group stage matches and was teammates with a handful of current and former CPL players, including Cavalry FC's Ali Musse and Marco Carducci and Pacific's Marco Bustos.
Two years later, Froese played for Canada at the 2015 Concacaf U-20 Championship, alongside the likes of Sam Adekugbe, Cyle larin and Manny Aparicio.
Froese made his senior national team debut in October 2014 in a friendly against Ghana played in Washington, D.C. Froese was one of four Canadian debutants in the starting XI, joined by Junior Hoilett, Charlie Trafford and Wandrille Lefevre. He earned a second Canada cap several months later in a game against the United States.
“This is a big moment for our club,” said Valour head coach and general manager Phillip Dos Santos. “Kianz adds quality and versatility to our group of attackers with a high level of experience. He’s a local guy with ties to the community who brings a competitive edge to compete and win for this city.”
“It was a long process and I credit Valour FC Director of Football Operations Josh Carabatsakis for working extremely hard to get this deal over the line. We are grateful and happy to have Kianz with our squad.”
Valour also announced on Wednesday that midfielder Dante Campbell will miss the remainder of the 2025 CPL season with a knee injury, and has been placed on the inactive list.