Veteran football defensive back Lee Young-pyo has joined a club in the top North American league, his agency said Tuesday.

The Seoul-based Jissen agency said Lee has inked a one-year deal with the Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Major League Soccer (MLS).

"Lee Young-pyo agreed to the deal Monday evening in Vancouver," the agency said. "The deal is for one year, with another year as a club option."

Further details of the contract were not disclosed. Lee is scheduled to hold a press conference Wednesday in Vancouver.

"I am happy with the atmosphere in Vancouver, and I was also impressed with the management's professionalism," Lee said in a statement released through the agency. He traveled from South Korea to Canada on Sunday to meet with Vancouver team officials.

"I am going to play hard and help the team post a good record next season," Lee added.

Lee, 34, retired from international play earlier this year, and ended a two-year stint with Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia in June. He said during the summer that he was considering retirement.

Vancouver is Lee's sixth professional team. After starting out in 2000 with Anyang LG Cheetahs, currently FC Seoul, in South Korea's K-League, the versatile wingback also played for PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands, Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League, Borussia Dortmund in Germany's Bundesliga and Al Hilal.

The Whitecaps FC are one of three Canadian teams in the MLS. It ranked dead last in the nine-team Western Conference of the league with six wins, 10 draws and 18 losses this year, its first in the MLS.

Lee, who played in three FIFA World Cups, was linked with several K-League teams in recent months. He is expected to join the Whitecaps for off-season training in mid-January. (Yonhap News)