{{Short description|Canadian soccer player (born 2001)}} {{Use Canadian English|date=December 2022}} {{Infobox football biography |name = Eric Lajeunesse |image = |fullname = Eric James Lajeunesse |birth_date = {{birth date and age|2003|3|10}} |birth_place = Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |height = {{height|ft=6|in=2}} |position = Defender |currentclub = |clubnumber = |youthyears1 = 2011–2021 |youthclubs1 = Ottawa St. Anthony Futuro Academy |youthyears2 = 2021–2022 |youthclubs2 = Vancouver Whitecaps FC |youthyears3 = |youthclubs3 = |collegeyears1 = 2022– |college1 = UBC Thunderbirds |collegecaps1 = 40 |collegegoals1 = 2 |years1 = 2022 |clubs1 = Whitecaps FC Academy |caps1 = 12 |goals1 = 0 |years2 = 2023– |clubs2 = Pacific FC |caps2 = 35 |goals2 = 0 |years3 = 2023 |clubs3 = → Nautsa’mawt FC (loan) |caps3 = 4 |goals3 = 0 |nationalyears1 = |nationalteam1 = |nationalcaps1 = |nationalgoals1 = |club-update = August 16, 2025 |nationalteam-update = }}
'''Eric James Lajeunesse ''' (born March 10, 2003) is a Canadian soccer player who plays for Pacific FC in the Canadian Premier League.
==Early life== From 2011 to 2021, he played with the Ottawa St. Anthony Futuro Academy.<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1433816827264634905|title=After 3620 days at Futuro Soccer Academy, Captain Eric Lajeunesse (2003) has signed with WhitecapsFC|date=September 3, 2021|first=Sanjeev|last=Parmar|user=parmarsports}}</ref> In 2019, he had a five-week trial with English club Plymouth Argyle's U18 team.<ref name=away>{{cite web|url=https://aftn.ca/vancouver-whitecaps-u19-2022-league1-bc-squad-profile-part-one-the-defence/|title=Vancouver Whitecaps U19 2022 League1 BC squad profile (Part One – The Defence)|date=May 20, 2022|first=Michael|last=McColl}}</ref> In September 2021, he joined the Vancouver Whitecaps academy.<ref name=away />
==University career== In 2022, Lajeunesse began attending the University of British Columbia, where he played for the men's soccer team.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gothunderbirds.ca/sports/mens-soccer/roster/eric-lajeunesse/10015|title=Eric Lajeunesse UBC profile|work=UBC Thunderbirds}}</ref> While at UBC, he pursued a biology degree.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fr.canpl.ca/article/eric-lajeunesse-letudiant-et-athlete-modele-du-pacific-fc|title=Éric Lajeunesse, l'étudiant et athlète modèle du Pacific FC|language=fr|trans-title=Éric Lajeunesse, the model student and athlete of Pacific FC|date=May 30, 2024|work=Canadian Premier League|first=Quentin|last=Parisis}}</ref> On September 25, 2022, he scored his first goal in a 4-0 victory over the Saskatchewan Huskies.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gothunderbirds.ca/news/2022/9/25/mens-soccer-relentless-attack-powers-ubc-to-4-0-win-over-huskies.aspx|title=Relentless attack powers UBC to 4-0 win over Huskies|date=September 25, 2022|first=Jeff|last=Sargeant|work=UBC Thunderbirds}}</ref> In his rookie season, he was named the Canada West Rookie of the Year and the U Sports Rookie of the Year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gothunderbirds.ca/news/2022/12/15/mens-soccer-eric-lajeunesse-selected-sixth-overall-by-pacific-fc-in-cpl-usports-draft.aspx|title=Eric Lajeunesse selected sixth overall by Pacific FC in CPL-U SPORTS Draft|date=December 15, 2022|work=UBC Thunderbirds|first=Jeff|last=Sargeant}}</ref> In 2023, he was named to both the Canada West and U Sports First Team All-Stars.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://canada-west.prezly.com/soc-ubc-players-headline-all-star-teams|title=SOC: UBC players headline All-Star teams|date=October 27, 2023|work=Canada West Universities Athletic Association}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://gothunderbirds.ca/news/2023/11/8/mens-soccer-dzikowski-named-u-sports-player-of-the-year-fuerst-earns-rookie-of-the-year.aspx|title=Sebastian Dzikowski named Player of the Year, Fuerst and Lee also honoured by Canada West|date=November 2, 2023|work=UBC Thunderbirds|first=Jeff|last=Sargeant}}</ref> In 2024, he was named to the U Sports All-Tournament Team.<ref name=2025cw /> In 2025, he was named the Canada West Defensive Player of the Year, and named a Canada West First Team All Star and U Sports First Team All-Canadian.<ref name=2025cw>{{cite web|url=https://gothunderbirds.ca/news/2025/10/29/mens-soccer-eric-lajeunesse-named-cw-defensive-player-of-the-year-mike-mosher-wins-coach-of-the-year.aspx|title=Eric Lajeunesse named CW Defensive Player of the Year, Mike Mosher wins Coach of the Year|date=October 29, 2025|work=UBC Thunderbirds|first=Jeff|last=Sargeant}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://canada-west.prezly.com/canada-west-unveils-2025-mens-soccer-all-star-and-all-rookie-teams|title=Canada West Unveils 2025 Men's Soccer All-Star and All-Rookie Teams|date=October 24, 2025|work=Canada West Universities Athletic Association}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.usports.ca/sports/msoc/2025-26c/releases/MSOCAWARDS2025|title=UFV's Mateo Branzinha named 2025 U SPORTS men’s soccer player of the year|date=November 5, 2025|work=U Sports}}</ref>
==Club career== In 2022, he played with the Whitecaps FC Academy in League1 British Columbia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.whitecapsfc.com/news/whitecaps-fc-announce-rosters-for-league1-bc|title=Whitecaps FC announce rosters for League1 BC|date=May 17, 2022|work=Vancouver Whitecaps FC}}</ref> He made his debut on May 22 against Victoria Highlanders FC.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.whitecapsfc.com/news/league1-bc-caps-open-with-5-1-win|title=League1 BC: Women get the win, men earn a draw|first=Maxim|last=Fossey|date=May 22, 2022|work=Vancouver Whitecaps FC}}</ref>
At the 2023 CPL-U Sports Draft, Lajeunesse was selected in the first round (6th overall) by Pacific FC.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timescolonist.com/sports/pfc-selects-lajeunesse-and-torresan-in-cpl-u-sports-draft-6257880|title=PFC selects Lajeunesse and Torresan in CPL-U Sports draft|date=December 16, 2022|work=Times Colonist|first=Cleve|last=Dheensaw}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.victorianow.com/watercooler/news/news/Local_Sports/Pacific_FC_selects_UBC_s_Lajeunesse_Trinity_Western_s_Torresan_in_CPL_U_SPORTS_draft/#fs_123857|title=Pacific FC selects UBC's Lajeunesse, Trinity Western's Torresan in CPL U SPORTS draft|date=December 16, 2022|first=Brett|last=Honeysett}}</ref> After attending pre-season with the club, he signed a U-Sports development contract with the club in April 2023, allowing him to maintain his university eligibility.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pacificfc.canpl.ca/article/pfc-shows-faith-in-youth-development-with-signing-of-four-young-canadian-players|title=PFC shows faith in youth development with signing of four young Canadian players|date=April 12, 2023|work=Pacific FC|first=Jack|last=Longo}}</ref> He made his professional debut on April 21 in a 2023 Canadian Championship match against Cavalry FC.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pacificfc.canpl.ca/article/match-report-pacific-fc-v-cavalry-fc-magic-of-the-cup-spurs-tridents-onto-quarter-finals|title=Match Report – Pacific FC v Cavalry FC: Magic of the cup spurs Tridents onto quarter-finals|date=April 21, 2023|work=Pacific FC|first=Jack|last=Longo}}</ref> He also spent some time on loan with Pacific's League1 British Columbia affiliate Nautsa’mawt FC in 2023.<ref name=23l1bc>{{cite web|url=https://www.league1bc.ca/roster_players/65866436|title=Eric Lajeunesse L1BC Stats|work=League1 British Columbia}}</ref> In August 2023, he departed the club to return to university, per the terms of his U Sports contract.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pacificfc.canpl.ca/article/lajeunesse-returns-to-university-of-british-columbia-following-end-of-u-sports-contract|title=Lajeunesse returns to University of British Columbia following end of U SPORTS contract|date=August 16, 2023|work=Pacific FC|first=Jack|last=Longo}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/pacific-fc-eric-lajeunesse-university/|title=Pacific Draft Pick Eric Lajeunesse Set For Thunderbirds Return|date=August 17, 2023|work=Northern Tribune|first=John|last=Jacques}}</ref> Pacific subsequently chose to retain his rights for the following season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pacificfc.canpl.ca/article/maturity-and-expertise-pfc-u-sports-draft-pick-lajeunesse-talks-draft-first-professional-season-and-returning-to-school|title="Maturity and Expertise": PFC U SPORTS Draft pick Lajeunesse talks draft, first professional season and returning to school|date=December 15, 2023|work=Pacific FC}}</ref> In April 2024, he signed another U Sports contract with the club for the 2024 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pacificfc.canpl.ca/article/pacific-fc-signs-eric-lajeunesse-on-u-sports-contact|title=Pacific FC Signs Eric Lajeunesse on U SPORTS Contact|date=April 12, 2024|work=Pacific FC}}</ref> He again departed the club in August 2024 to return to university with the club retaining his rights for 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pacificfc.canpl.ca/article/pacific-fc-defender-eric-lajeunesse-returns-to-ubc|title=Pacific FC Defender Eric Lajeunesse Returns to UBC|date=August 15, 2024|work=Pacific FC}}</ref> In February 2025, he re-signed with the club on another U Sports contract.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pacificfc.canpl.ca/article/pacific-fc-re-sign-defender-eric-lajeunesse-to-a-u-sports-contract|title=Pacific FC Re-sign Defender Eric Lajeunesse to a U SPORTS Contract|date=February 5, 2025|work=Pacific FC}}</ref> In August 2025, he again departed the club to return to university, as per the terms of his U Sports contract, with the club retaining his rights for the 2026 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.canpl.ca/pacificfc/news/pacific-fc-s-u-sports-duo-shining-on-and-off-the-pitch|title=Pacific FC’s U SPORTS Duo Shining On and Off the Pitch|first=Joseph|last=Russell |date=14 August 2025|work=Pacific FC}}</ref> In April 2026, he signed another U Sports contract for the 2026 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cplsoccer.com/pacificfc/news/pacific-fc-re-sign-defenders-eric-lajeunesse-and-fin-tugwell-to-cpl-u-sports-contracts|title=Pacific FC Re-sign Defenders Eric Lajeunesse and Fin Tugwell to CPL-U SPORTS Contracts|date=April 2, 2026|work=Pacific FC}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {{updated|August 17, 2025}}<ref>{{soccerway|eric-lajeunesse/904334}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Playoffs !colspan="2"|Domestic Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division !Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |Whitecaps FC Academy |2022 |League1 British Columbia |12||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||12||0 |- |rowspan=4|Pacific FC |2023 |rowspan=3|Canadian Premier League |6||0||0||0||1||0||colspan="2"|–||7||0 |- |2024 |14||0||0||0||4||0||colspan="2"|–||18||0 |- |2025 |15||0||0||0||1||0||colspan="2"|–||16||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !35!!0!!0!!0!!6!!0!!0!!0!!41!!0 |- |Nautsa’mawt FC (loan) |2023<ref name=23l1bc/> |League1 British Columbia |4||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||4|0 |- ! colspan="3" |'''Career total''' !51!!0!!0!!0!!6!!0!!0!!0!!57!!0 |} {{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{soccerway|eric-lajeunesse/904334}}
{{Pacific FC squad}} {{2023 CPL–U Sports Draft}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lajeunesse, Eric}} Category:2003 births Category:Living people Category:Canadian Premier League players Category:Canadian men's soccer players Category:Soccer players from Ottawa Category:Pacific FC players Category:Pacific FC draft picks Category:Whitecaps FC Academy players Category:Nautsaʼmawt FC players Category:British Columbia Premier League players Category:21st-century Canadian sportsmen Category:Men's association football defenders Category:University and college men's soccer players in Canada