Atlético Ottawa has announced the signing of French left-back Aboubakary Sacko. The 20-year-old joins Atleti after progressing through Le Havre’s youth ranks as a captain and constant leader throughout his career to date.

“Ottawa seemed like a really good choice for me, it’s an intriguing project and just felt like a great opportunity to take the next steps in my career,” said Sacko. “The Canadian Premier League has proven to be a place where young players can shine and gives them a platform. Those are the footballing reasons, but Canada was also a very appealing to me as a country to live in. I’m really excited to get over there and meet the fans, I’ve been hearing great things shout Ottawa’s support!”

“Abou is a versatile player with great potential,” said Carlos González, Head Coach, Atlético Ottawa. “He’s a box-to-box player who is equally comfortable in attack and defence. His speed and one-on-one abilities will be an asset to our team, and he provides depth and competition on the left side of our team.”

Le Havre’s academy is renowned for producing top-class talent, including world-class players like Paul Pogba, Riyad Mahrez, Dimitri Payet, and Ferland Mendy. Sacko joined Le Havre on a five-year development contract in 2016 and has since featured for the club’s U17s, U19s, and B team, making five appearances in the 2022/23 season.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Sacko to the Atlético Ottawa family,” said Fernando Lopez, CEO, Atlético Ottawa. “He’s an exciting addition to our team and brings with him a wealth of experience from one of the most prestigious academies in France. We look forward to seeing him grow and develop with us.”

Atlético Ottawa 2023 Roster as of March 7, 2023

Goalkeepers: Nathan Ingham (CAN), Sean Melvin (CAN)

Defenders: Miguel Acosta (ESP), Maxim Tissot (CAN), Niba Macdonald (CAN), Zachary Roy (CAN), Karl Ouimette (CAN), Diego Espejo (ESP), Luke Singh (CAN), Aboubakary Sacko (FRA)

Midfielders: Zachary Verhoven (CAN), Carl Haworth (CAN), Zakaria Bahous (CAN), Ollie Bassett (NI), Noah Verhoeven (CAN), Gabriel Antinoro (CAN), Junior Agyekum (CAN)*

Forwards: Malcolm Shaw (CAN), Jean-Aniel Assi (CAN), Samuel Salter (CAN), Gianni dos Santos (CPV)

*On trial following U-Sports Draft