Mattias Vales makes his professional debut with Pacific FC at just 17 years old
- Pacific Football Club
- May 7
- 3 min read
At just 17 years old, Mattias Vales became the latest Pacific FC academy product to make his professional debut, when he stepped onto the pitch at Starlight Stadium during Tuesday’s Canadian Championship preliminary round match against Vancouver FC. Though the match ended in a defeat in penalties, Vales’ performance was a great moment and a testament to the club's youth development system.
“We bring in Mattias Vales from our academy, who was for sure the brightest light of the match” said Pacific FC Head Coach James Merriman post-match. “You see the energy that he gives, the intensity that he gave to the game, the personality that he plays with... He absolutely took his opportunity.”
Vales’ debut is the culmination of a great journey that started right here on Vancouver Island. He rose through the ranks of Pacific FC’s youth development pathway, starting in the Trident Development Program, then excelling with the Vancouver Island Wave, one of BC’s most competitive youth teams. His time with these programs gave him the opportunity to build a foundation for his skills.
His journey then continued with his enrollment at St. John’s Academy in Shawnigan Lake BC, where he joined the Pacific FC partner academy. This gave him the chance to even further refine his skills before taking another step in early 2025 into Europe. Vales’ trajectory reached new heights when he earned a stint away with VfL Bochum’s U-21 side in Germany, made possible through Pacific FC’s partnership with the Bundesliga club.
Upon his return home, Vales’ was quickly re-signed to a development contract in March with Pacific FC. He had been training with the first team throughout the offseason, which would further prepare him for his moment that finally arrived Tuesday night.
“I've been training with the team for a very long time, so I've been waiting for my chance,” Vales said after the match. “I knew when my chance came around I had to take it, so I felt very positive going into tonight. I knew I just had to battle and work as hard as I can.”
That is exactly what he did. His direct playstyle and quick decision-making helped shift the momentum in a second-half push that nearly gave Pacific FC the edge, and it did not go unnoticed.
“He is the one that ran at the defender to get the set piece that Aly scored on,” Merriman added. “That is what he does in the academy, that is what he does day in, day out in training. We have been waiting to give him an opportunity and it was deserved.”
Vales’ impact on the game was also not lost on the supporters, many cheered for every touch of the ball and every tackle, which just showed his connection to the local community and his long hours invested on the pitch.
“I think all of my Wave teammates and my whole bloodline, I'd say—all of my family members—were there at the game,” Vales smiled. “The fight was a big positive to take away. We knew we had to step it up, so we fought back and it was good. We can build on this.”
In just one half of football, Vales displayed so many traits that Pacific FC looks for and believes in. While the night had a disappointing end for the team, it seems to be just the beginning for what promises to be a bright future for the young star midfielder.
“We are just starting, you know,” said Vales. “There are a lot of new players, and we are starting to bond together really well. I think this is just the start.”
For Pacific FC, this debut is not just a glimpse into the future of the club, but it is also a very proud moment for the youth development system that continues to produce local talent.
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