Nyal Christian-Anthony Higgins (born January 19, 1998) is a Canadian professional soccer player who currently plays for FC Edmonton of the Canadian Premier League.
![]() Higgins in 2022 with FC Edmonton | |||
Personal information | |||
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Full name | Nyal Christian-Anthony Higgins | ||
Date of birth | (1998-01-19) January 19, 1998 (age 24) | ||
Place of birth | Ajax, Ontario, Canada | ||
Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
Position(s) | Centre-back | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | FC Edmonton | ||
Number | 18 | ||
Youth career | |||
Ajax SC | |||
Vaughan SC | |||
College career | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2016–2018 | Oakland Golden Grizzlies | 49 | (4) |
2019 | Syracuse Orange | 19 | (1) |
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2016 | Vaughan Azzurri | 5 | (0) |
2017 | Michigan Bucks | 8 | (0) |
2018 | Vaughan Azzurri | 3 | (0) |
2020–2021 | Toronto FC II | 9 | (0) |
2020 | → Nyköpings BIS (loan) | 17 | (1) |
2021 | → Atlético Ottawa (loan) | 8 | (0) |
2022– | FC Edmonton | 24 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 8, 2022 |
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]
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]
On August 7, 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, FC Edmonton announced they had signed Higgins to a contract.[16]
He was a member of the U18 and U20 Canadian national team talent pools.[17]
Club | Season | League | Playoffs | Domestic Cup | League Cup | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Vaughan Azzurri[19] | 2016 | League1 Ontario | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | ? | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
Michigan Bucks[20] | 2017 | PDL | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 9 | 0 | |
Vaughan Azzurri[21] | 2018 | League1 Ontario | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
Toronto FC II | 2021 | USL League One | 9 | 0 | — | — | — | 9 | 0 | |||
Nyköpings BIS (loan) | 2020 | Ettan Norra | 17 | 1 | — | 2 | 0 | — | 19 | 1 | ||
Atlético Ottawa (loan) | 2021 | Canadian Premier League | 8 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 8 | 0 | ||
FC Edmonton | 2022 | Canadian Premier League | 24 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | — | 25 | 0 | ||
Career total | 74 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 78 | 1 |
FC Edmonton – current squad | |
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Toronto FC first-round draft picks | |
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