Jordan Harvey left home for the first time at 16.
Invited to the U.S. Men’s National Team U-17 residency program in Bradenton, Fla., Harvey had never been away from his family for more than a couple of days at a time. Before leaving, Harvey’s father gave his son a St. Christopher medallion to take with him.
St. Christopher now adorns the entirety of Harvey’s upper arm in black and grey, a tribute to the first time he left home to pursue his dream.
"It was very symbolic, the patron of safe travels. It’s something that I felt like I wanted to get tattooed," Harvey said. "So that was the first one. It’s a pretty big piece, it’s half my arm. Other than that, I’ve got a few other things."
A 14-year MLS veteran, Harvey’s career has taken him across North America and back again. Drafted by the Colorado Rapids out of UCLA in 2006, the defender spent four years in Colorado before being selected by then MLS newcomers the Philadelphia Union in the 2009 Expansion draft.
A little over a year and half after landing in Philadelphia, Harvey was on the move again. Shipped to another new expansion team, the Vancouver Whitecaps in the summer of 2011, Harvey found himself in a new city, a new home, once again.
Seven seasons and 199 appearances later, a Whitecaps record, Harvey left his mark on the franchise, and Vancouver left an indelible mark on him. One he’s proud to display as he’s set to return to Vancouver once again, this time as a member of LAFC.
“It’s kind of my homage to Vancouver, the city and everything,” Harvey said, referring to tattoos of Vancouver’s BC Place Stadium and English Bay wrapping around his right forearm.
The tattoo of Vancouver’s English Bay has added significance as it depicts Harvey’s wife and daughter, Harlow, in the forefront walking along the shore.
“I’ve got my daughter and my wife, the city landscape, the stadium, and then the sea wall. We lived on the sea wall there. The sea wall is just such a beautiful place to go on a walk. I would go on a walk with my family there every week. It’s pretty special to us.”
Signing with LAFC as a free agent in 2018 was a chance for Harvey to return to his original home of Southern California. But Vancouver will always remain a home away from home for Harvey and his family.
“I was in Vancouver for seven years. The most memorable parts of my life have been there so far have been there,” Harvey said. “So that was from getting engaged to having our baby there. She’s got dual citizenship.”
Harlow, now 2 ½ years old, has left her own mark on her father.
“My favorite tattoo has to be the crown on my chest for my daughter,” Harvey said. “I had that done by a guy in Vancouver, and that’s usually the one that always strikes me. That’s my favorite.”
Having only known him in Whitecaps’ colors, Harvey said Harlow might not know the significance of her dad’s return to their old home, but she’ll be watching.
“Hopefully she doesn’t give out a Whitecaps chant, because that’s what we trained her to do when she watches,” Harvey said. “But she is well on her way to the LAFC chants.”
With Vancouver immortalized on his right arm, Harvey’s tattoo-free left arm stands out as a blank canvas. Admitting his time in Vancouver was some of the best years of his career so far, Harvey hopes he has a few more in store with LAFC.
And he’s open to the possible tattoos that might come with it.
“For me to get something tattooed on me, it has to have a real significance in my life. So that’s generally why I get them. There’s some story behind them, and that’s usually what people ask about,” Harvey said.
“Everyone has a story, so I’m glad I’m able to share that.”
