As Pierce <a href="http://www.canadiansoccernews.com/content.php?1065-VWhitecaps-Training-Camp-2011-Day-3-News-and-Notes">wrote</a> a while back, there have been rumours floating around for a while that the Whitecaps' Ethan Gage would be heading to Reading. Gage showed up at the Whitecaps' practice last week, but only in street clothes and did not participate in training. Today, the club's <a href="http://www.readingfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~2280757,00.html">website</a> <a href="http://www.prostamerika.com/2011/01/31/reading-confirm-ethan-gage-signing-36039/">confirmed</a> that they had indeed signed Gage (and American player Erik Opsahl). Here's the key part of their release:[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
<blockquote>The Royals have swooped to sign Canada's under 20s captain Ethan Gage and American youngster Erik Opsahl.
19-year-old Gage [pictured] was named as Canada's under 20s Player of the Year in 2010 and is comfortable playing in midfield or defence.
He rose through the ranks with Vancouver Whitecaps, and the Royals moved quickly to sign him after his contract with the MLS side came to its conclusion. He played a number of games for the Whitecaps' first team and upon his debut at 17 he became one of their youngest-ever players.
He successfully trained with the Royals earlier this month, and in the past he has also been linked with then-German champions Wolfsburg, as well as Eintracht Frankfurt.
Gage has played at every youth age group for Canada, lining up in the CONCACAF under 20 World Championship and also receiving a first call-up for their under 23s/Olympic group late last year.</blockquote>
That covers Gage's career pretty nicely, but it doesn't perhaps illustrate just how impressive his time with Vancouver was to many. He was one of their most promising young players last season in my mind despite not always seeing playing time. When he did get the chance to start in central midfield, he looked far more poised than his 19 years of age would suggest. He seemed like one of the young guns who could make a bid for regular playing time right from the start in MLS, so his loss will definitely be at least a partial setback for Vancouver.
Even the Whitecaps' <a href="http://www.whitecapsfc.com/roster">partial roster released thus far</a> does give them a fair bit of depth in the middle, though. Despite the departures of Gage and Martin Nash, they still have the likes of Terry Dunfield and Philippe Davies who were with them last season. They also have plenty of new acquisitions with MLS experience like Shea Salinas, John Thorrington and Atiba Harris, and draft pick Michael Nanchoff from Akron is also a skilled midfield presence. They'll undoubtedly add more players in midfield before the season starts, but the current cupboard isn't exactly bare.
The question is if Gage's departure will work out well for him in the long term. The Championship is certainly a solid level of play, and Reading's a decent squad (<a href="http://www.football-league.co.uk/page/ChampionshipHome/0,,10794,00.html">currently ninth in the 24-team table</a>). If they invest in developing him and he sees the field regularly, he could become a valuable piece for both them and the Canadian national team. If he stagnates and doesn't get a lot of playing time, though, it could definitely hurt his career. All we know for now is that he's taking his next step outside Vancouver.