MENU
8 Canadian players who could find a home with CPL teams in 2021

Canadian Premier League clubs are getting closer and closer to completing their final rosters for the upcoming season.

Preparations for the 2021 CPL campaign are nearing completion for most clubs, as rosters begin to fill up. You can see the full breakdown on our off-season roster tracker.

All but one club (Atlético Ottawa) has at least 15 players signed but, at the same time, only one team (York United FC) has a full complement of players signed for 2021.

This is all to say that there is a fair bit of work to be done by teams before the season kicks off, with the destination of a number of Canadian players still to be determined.

Here are eight Canadians who could find their way onto a CPL roster by the start of the 2021 season.


RELATED READING: CPL off-season roster tracker: Who’s in and who’s out for 2021?


Ben Fisk – Attacker (Last club: Atlético Ottawa)

The former Atlético Ottawa captain has become a free agent at a rough time, with most CPL clubs having already locked up their high-profile attackers for 2021. Perhaps there’s a spot for Fisk, 28, on a team looking for depth on the wing or for a dependable veteran in the final third. His six goals and five assists for Pacific FC in 2019 hint at the quality he can deliver.

Shaan Hundal – Attacker (Last club: Valour FC)

Shaan Hundal. (Valour FC)
Shaan Hundal. (Valour FC)

The former Toronto FC II and Valour FC striker got a bad shake at The Island Games, despite collecting two assists and looking sharp as a link-up forward. While he was unlucky not to score in PEI, the 21-year-old’s career goalscoring record (17 goals with Toronto FC II) tells a much different story.

Ryan Telfer – Attacker (Last club: York United)

What hasn’t already been said about Ryan Telfer, the CPL’s first-ever goalscorer, who was released by York United this off-season? Rumour has it CPL clubs are interested in the former Toronto FC winger, who turned 26 on Thursday. The Trinidad and Tobago international recorded 10 goals and three assists during his time with York.

Jordan Faria – Midfielder (Last club: Toronto FC II)

The Brampton-born midfielder has shown an interest in CPL, and he would count as an under-21 player for the 2021 season. Faria, who is capable of playing on either wing or as an attacking midfielder, made over 60 appearances across Toronto FC’s League1 Ontario and USL sides before being released last fall.

Tristan Borges – Attacker (Last club: Oud-Heverlee Leuven)

While not a free agent, there are “rumblings of a stronger and stronger possibility” that the CPL’s 2019 Player of the Year could become a late pre-season signing. OneSoccer’s Oliver Platt is reporting the 22-year-old former Forge FC star could be on his way out at OH Leuven and make his way back to Canada. Borges has made only four appearances for the Belgian side since joining them last winter.

Louis Béland-Goyette – Midfielder (Last club: HFX Wanderers FC)

Béland-Goyette remains unsigned despite interest from at least two clubs this off-season, CanPL.ca has learned. The 25-year-old has racked up 31 appearances between the Wanderers and Valour FC, making him one of the more tenured midfielders available. “LBG” would make a solid addition to most CPL midfields.

Bruno Zebie – Midfielder (Last club: Cavalry FC)

Zebie presents one of the more intriguing free-agent options. Capable of playing up the left-hand side, in central midfield, and even further forward in an attack like he did for Cavalry FC last season, the 25-year-old can fill more than a few gaps for a CPL team looking to add to their depth options.

Brian Wright – Forward (Last club: Birmingham Legion – USL)

The former MLS SuperDraft pick was recently released by his USL Championship team after two seasons – one on loan – and nine goals. The ex-New England Revolution depth option is on the radar of some CPL teams. How many clubs could use a new striker?

TIG-book-onsale-editorialad-1024x284