Atlético Ottawa announced on Friday the arrival of Canadian defensive midfielder Ilias Iliadis to the nation’s capital. The 22-year-old talent, hailing from CF Montréal in Major League Soccer, will join our team on loan until the end of the 2023 Canadian Premier League season.
Iliadis played his minor soccer with the Scarborough Olympic Flame SC. Following a camp in Greece with English Club Arsenal’s Academy in January 2015, he joined Greek club Panathinaikos’ Academy. In August 2021, he joined Panathinaikos B, playing a total of 34 games and scoring two goals in the Greek Super League 2.
“We are delighted to welcome Ilias to the Atleti Family,” said CEO Fernando Lopez. “He is a young, talented midfielder with a bright future ahead of him. We believe he will be a valuable asset to our team as we make a strong push in the second half of the Canadian Premier League season and will have a crucial role to play within the squad. This is an exciting addition to the team and a testament to the trust that is continuously being developed between Atlético Ottawa and CF Montréal.”
Head Coach Carlos Gonzalez expressed his excitement about the latest addition to the squad, stating, “Ilias is a player with immense potential and a great understanding of the game. His qualities are a perfect fit to bring even more versatility to our style of play, I have no doubt that he will fit perfectly into our team dynamic. I look forward to seeing him on the pitch and working with him to ensure we maximize his impact during the final stretch of the season.”
Iliadis joined CF Montréal in January 2023 and arrives at a crucial juncture for Atlético Ottawa as the team strives to continue its upward trajectory in the league standings and push for a high berth in the Canadian Premier League playoffs. With his defensive prowess and tactical versatility, Iliadis becomes the latest addition to Atlético Ottawa’s first-team squad, with a roster spot opening up following the departure of midfielder Zakaria Bahous by mutual termination.
Bahous, 22, played 42 games in his two years with Atlético Ottawa, playing a key role in the club’s 2022 run to the CPL’s 2022 regular season title. He had played 14 matches in 2023.
Atlético Ottawa today announces the departure of 2022 Canadian Premier League Regular Season champion Zakaria Bahous from the club.
Merci, Bahous! pic.twitter.com/CNmNhHcq0x
— Atlético Ottawa (@atletiOttawa) July 28, 2023