Vancouver Whitecaps and Striker Masato Kudo Part Ways

Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced Friday that the club and striker Masato Kudo have mutually agreed to a contract termination.

The main theme of the Vancouver Whitecaps offseason so far has been one of departures, and the last piece of transfer news reported in 2016 was no exception. Masato Kudo will be returning to Japan, joining J-League side Sanfrecce Hiroshima, after the Whitecaps and Kudo reached a mutual agreement to terminate his contract.

Kudo generated a good deal of excitement in Vancouver upon his arrival in December 2015. Signed on a free transfer from Kashiwa Reysol, the Japanese striker arrived as his club’s all-time leading goalscorer, with 92 goals in 260 appearances. However,…