Nyal Higgins Explained

Nyal Higgins
Full Name:Nyal Christian-Anthony Higgins
Birth Date:19 January 1998
Birth Place:Ajax, Ontario, Canada
Height:1.88 m
Position:Centre-back
Currentclub:York United FC
Youthclubs1:Ajax SC
Youthclubs2:Vaughan SC
Collegeyears1:2016–2018
Collegecaps1:49
Collegegoals1:4
Collegeyears2:2019
Collegecaps2:19
Collegegoals2:1
Years1:2016
Clubs1:Vaughan Azzurri
Caps1:5
Goals1:0
Years2:2017
Clubs2:Michigan Bucks
Caps2:8
Goals2:0
Years3:2018
Clubs3:Vaughan Azzurri
Caps3:3
Goals3:0
Years4:2020–2021
Clubs4:Toronto FC II
Caps4:9
Goals4:0
Years5:2020
Clubs5:Nyköpings BIS (loan)
Caps5:17
Goals5:1
Years6:2021
Clubs6:Atlético Ottawa (loan)
Caps6:8
Goals6:0
Years7:2022
Clubs7:FC Edmonton
Caps7:24
Goals7:0
Years8:2023
Clubs8:Vaughan Azzurri
Caps8:18
Goals8:0
Years9:2024–
Clubs9:York United FC
Caps9:1
Goals9:0
Club-Update:April 13, 2023

Nyal Christian-Anthony Higgins (born January 19, 1998) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays for York United FC in the Canadian Premier League.

College

In 2016, he attended Oakland University, playing for the Golden Grizzlies soccer team. As a freshman, he was named to the Horizon League All-Freshman Team and the NSCAA All-Great Lakes Regional Third Team. In his sophomore and junior seasons, he was named to the All-Horizon League Second Team.[1] In 2019, he transferred to Syracuse University to play for the Syracuse Orange soccer team.[2]

Club career

During the 2016 and 2018 seasons, he played with Vaughan Azzurri in League1 Ontario.[3] In 2017, he played with the Michigan Bucks in the Premier Development League.[4] In 2018, he trained with three Major League Soccer clubs - Sporting Kansas City, Columbus Crew SC, and Nashville SC.[5] He later trained with Toronto FC in 2019.[6]

He was selected 19th overall by Toronto FC in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft.[7] He attended pre-season with the club, but ultimately did not make the final roster for 2020.[8] In July, he signed a USL contract with the second-team Toronto FC II.[9] He was soon after sent on loan to Nyköpings BIS in the Swedish third tier, following TFC II's withdrawal from the 2020 USL League One season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[10] He scored his first goal on November 21, in a 7-1 defeat to IF Brommapojkarna.[11] He made his debut for Toronto FC II on May 22, 2021 against North Texas SC.[12]

In August 2021, Higgins joined Canadian Premier League side Atlético Ottawa on loan.[13] [14] He made his debut in a substitute appearance, on August 25, against Forge FC.[15]

In February 2022, he signed a contract with FC Edmonton in the Canadian Premier League.[16]

In 2023, he returned to Vaughan Azzurri. He was named a league Second Team All-Star at the end of the season.[17]

In April 2024, he signed a one-year contract with a club option for 2025 with York United FC in the Canadian Premier League.[18] [19]

International career

He was a member of the U-18 and U-20 Canada national team talent pools.[20]

Career statistics

ClubSeasonLeaguePlayoffsDomestic CupLeague CupTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Vaughan Azzurri[21] 2016League1 Ontario5000?050
Michigan Bucks[22] 2017PDL80100090
Vaughan Azzurri[23] 2018League1 Ontario30000030
Toronto FC II2021USL League One9090
Nyköpings BIS (loan)2020Ettan Norra17120191
Atlético Ottawa (loan)2021Canadian Premier League800080
FC Edmonton2022Canadian Premier League24010250
Vaughan Azzurri2023[24] League1 Ontario1802010210
York United FC2024Canadian Premier League100010
Career total9313040001001

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Nyal Higgins. Oakland Golden Grizzlies.
  2. Web site: Syracuse men's soccer welcomes three new additions for the spring semester. Steve. Haller. January 27, 2019. SBNation.
  3. Web site: Vaughan SC revels in Super day. Sheldon. Shealer. January 9, 2020. Top Drawer Soccer.
  4. Web site: Bucks' success continues into off season. Harold C.. Ford. February 26, 2020. East Village Magazine.
  5. Web site: In the spotlight- Nyal Higgins. Zac. Grasl. August 1, 2018. The Oakland Post.
  6. Web site: Vaughan SC Makes History As Four League1 Players Selected In 2020 MLS SuperDraft. Cormac. Rea. January 9, 2020. League1 Ontario.
  7. Web site: Toronto FC selects Ajax-native Higgins, Achara in first round of 2020 MLS Draft. Michael. Singh. January 9, 2020. Waking the Red.
  8. Web site: Toronto FC announces roster for first preseason camp. January 24, 2020. Toronto FC.
  9. Web site: Toronto FC II Sign Nyal Higgins. July 2, 2020. Toronto FC.
  10. Web site: Toronto FC II Loan Nyal Higgins to Nyköpings BIS. August 10, 2020. Toronto FC.
  11. Web site: Tung förlust när Nyköping krossades av Brommapojkarna. Heavy loss when Nyköping was crushed by Brommapojkarna. November 21, 2020. Sport Bladet.
  12. Web site: North Texas SC Falls 2-1 Away to Toronto FC II. May 22, 2021. FC Dallas.
  13. Web site: Atlético Ottawa Sign Nyal Higgins, on loan . . August 7, 2021 . August 7, 2021.
  14. Web site: Toronto FC II loan Nyal Higgins to Atlético Ottawa. August 7, 2021. Toronto FC.
  15. Web site: Pacius scores two as Forge sails past Atlético Ottawa 4-0. Charlie. O'Connor-Clarke. Canadian Premier League. August 25, 2021.
  16. Web site: FC Edmonton adds defender Nyal Higgins. February 25, 2022. FC Edmonton.
  17. Web site: MVP Tomasz Skublak leads line in star-studded XI. November 28, 2023. League1 Ontario.
  18. Web site: York United FC announce signing of Canadian defender Nyal Higgins. April 12, 2024. York United FC.
  19. Web site: Nyal Higgins Returns To CPL, Signs With York United. April 12, 2024. Northern Tribune. John. Jacques.
  20. Web site: Nyal Higgins. Syracuse Orange.
  21. Web site: Nyal Higgins 2016 L1O Stats . League1 Ontario.
  22. Web site: Michigan Bucks - Nyal Higgins. USL League Two.
  23. Web site: Nyal Higgins 2018 L1O Stats . League1 Ontario.
  24. Web site: Nyal Higgins 2023 L1O Stats . League1 Ontario.