Winger Dane Richards heading to England at end of season

The mid-season trade for winger Dane Richards amounts to a rental.

The Whitecaps announced Sunday that Richards, a 28-year-old Jamaican, will join English Championship side Burnley at the end of this season.

Richards is in the final year of a deal that pays him $181,500.

Caps coach Martin Rennie sent French forward Sebastien Le Toux to the New York Red Bulls on July 13 for Richards and allocation money, which can be used to buy down salaries against the cap, or used in transfer fees. Le Toux is also in the final year of a deal that pays him $169,000. Reports earlier this season said Le Toux wanted around $400,000 next year, so both players could move on.

In Vancouver, the hard-working Le Toux was stuck on right wing, so the move for Richards was a positional trade for a pure winger as much as anything.

“We knew there was a strong possibility [Richards] might get offers from Europe next season,” Rennie said in a statement. “Dane will continue to be an important part of our squad as we push for a playoff spot.”

In six starts for Vancouver, Richards has been a different player home and away. He’s scored two great goals at B.C. Place and looked like an all-star against San Jose. But in Portland on Saturday he struggled, like almost all his teammates, and he’s been held in check on the road.