VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Whitecaps have sold striker Octavio Rivero to Chilean side Colo-Colo.

The move sending the 24-year-old Uruguayan back to South America had been rumoured for some weeks.

As part of the deal, Vancouver will receive a percentage of any future transfer fees obtained by Colo-Colo.

Rivero had 14 goals and four assists in his 52 appearances across all competitions since signing with the Whitecaps in December 2014.

He scored in his first three MLS matches but goals were much harder to find this season when he had just two in 12 league appearances, ranking behind captain Pedro Morales (6), Christian Bolanos (5) and Kekuta Manneh (5).

"We thank Octavio for his contributions and wish him all the best in Chile," Whitecaps head coach Carl Robinson said in a statement. "We have built a solid foundation, and this move gives us flexibility moving forward as we continue to look to strengthen our roster for both the short and long term."

The striker is moving to a club in upheaval with news that Jose Luis Sierra and his entire coaching staff have resigned.

Rivero played in Uruguay for Central Espanol and Rentistas from 2012 to 2014 before moving to Chile to join O'Higgins FC in 2014.

Rivero was the Whitecaps' second highest-paid player this season behind fellow designated player Morales (US$1.26 million) at $890,850. Midfielder Matias Laba, another designated player, is third at $720,500.

The move leaves the Whitecaps with an international roster position vacant. The MLS transfer window closes Aug. 3.