With the Canadian university season just around the corner, every Canadian Premier League club had decisions to make regarding their players on CPL-U SPORTS contracts. In total, six players will be remaining with their CPL team through the end of the 2024 season, six will be returning to school while their club retains their rights for 2025, and two will be going back to university with their rights not retained.
Due to the agreement between the CPL and U SPORTS, clubs can sign up to three players on U SPORTS contracts, which allows them to earn professional experience without losing their eligibility to continue playing university football. In 2024, all CPL-U SPORTS contracts expire on Aug. 15, unless extended until the end of the season.
The following six players will be remaining with their clubs through the end of 2024:
- Luca Piccioli, Atlético Ottawa
- Niko Myroniuk, Cavalry FC
- Amadou Koné, Forge FC
- Gianfranco Facchineri, Valour FC
- Sebastian Dzikowski, Vancouver FC
- Trivine Esprit, York United FC
In addition, the following six players will be returning to their university teams this month, but their CPL clubs have retained their rights and will have the first opportunity to re-sign them in 2025, without having to select them again in the CPL-U SPORTS Draft:
- Max Piepgrass, Cavalry FC
- Dino Bontis; Forge FC
- Daniel Clarke, Halifax Wanderers FC
- Eric Lajeunesse, Pacific FC
- Thomas Powell, Vancouver FC
- Christian Zeppieri, York United FC
Finally, two players have had their rights released by their CPL clubs as they also return to school. That means both will be eligible to re-enter the CPL-U SPORTS Draft next year:
- Caden Rogozinski, Cavalry FC
- Jason Hartill, York United FC