As the penultimate week of the Canadian Premier League off-season begins, clubs are finalizing their rosters for the start of the 2025 season on April 5. This week saw some high-profile loan deals, as well as multiple players selected in the 2025 CPL-U SPORTS Draft signed to contracts. Here are the biggest stories from across the Canadian Premier League this past week:
Atlético Ottawa sign midfielder Kevin Ortega, defender Iker Moreno, on loan from Atlético San Luis
As they round out their 2025 squad, Atlético Ottawa brought in a pair of players on loan from partner club Liga MX’s Atlético de San Luis this past week. On Wednesday, they announced the signings of 23-year-old midfielder Kevin Ortega and 21-year-old wide player Iker Moreno. Moreno is a versatile player with solid experience in the Mexican top flight. He made his professional debut with Club América in 2022 before joining Atlético San Luis in 2023, making a further 20 appearances with their first team and scoring once. He is capable of playing across the front line as a winger or attacking midfielder. However, Atlético Ottawa are likely to deploy him as a right wing-back or fullback this year. Ortega, meanwhile, is a holding midfielder who has made four appearances with the San Luis first team. A previous Mexican youth international, he began his pro career with Pachuca, making one appearance for their first team, and also playing twice for CF Monterrey before joining San Luis in 2024. The connection has already served Atleti well this off-season, as they brought in veteran midfielder Juan Castro from San Luis in January on a permanent deal, as well as David Rodríguez on loan in February.
Pacific FC sign 2025 CPL-U SPORTS Draft pick Fin Tugwell
The 12th overall pick in the 2025 CPL-U SPORTS draft signed with Pacific FC this week, with the Tridents announcing a CPL-U SPORTS contract for Fin Tugwell on Wednesday. The 22-year-old defender was named the U SPORTS Defensive Player of the Year and a First Team All-Canadian in 2024 with the University of Victoria Vikes. A native of North Vancouver, he impressed the Tridents throughout pre-season. He joins fellow defender Eric Lajeunesse as players on CPL-U SPORTS contracts on Pacific FC’s 2025 squad.
Halifax Wanderers ink Joven Mann to CPL-U SPORTS deal
The scorer of the 2024 U SPORTS national title-winning goal is joining the Halifax Wanderers this season, as the club confirmed on Thursday the signing of 20-year-old forward Joven Mann to a CPL-U SPORTS contract. Mann scored the stoppage-time winner for national champions UBC against the University of Montréal in a 1-0 victory in the 2024 championship match. He finished his freshman season with a solid six goals and three assists in 21 appearances. He was selected 11th overall by Halifax in the 2025 CPL-U SPORTS Draft. Mann came through the Whitecaps academy before joining UBC this season. He becomes the 11th CPL-U SPORTS player drafted by the Wanderers to sign with the team.
Vancouver FC sign 16-year-old Colombian youth international goalkeeper Felipe Jaramillo Drolet
The youth movement in Vancouver continued this week with the signing of 16-year-old Colombian-Canadian goalkeeper Felipe Jaramillo Drolet. He signed a two-year contract with an additional two-year club option. He was part of Vancouver FC’s inaugural U-19 Academy team after coming through the Mountain United FC and Vancouver Whitecap setups. In December, Jaramillo Drolet earned a call-up to the Colombian men’s U-17 national team. He will now get to work with the experienced Callum Irving, a nominee for the CPL’s Golden Glove award in 2024, as well as new goalkeeper coach Niko Giantsopoulos.
Forge FC unveil 2025 Home and Alternate kits
The CPL’s regular season winners unveiled their 2025 home and away kits this week at a special kit launch event on Wednesday night. Forge’s new kits feature a new official kit sponsor, WeatherTech Canada — which will be displayed on the chest of both the home and alternate kits. The 2025 home kit features the club’s iconic Spark Orange with a tribute to Hamilton’s city Coat of Arms in the words ‘Together We Aspire, Together We Achieve, Together We Forge’ written throughout the kit. The Alternate kit displays a pattern of grey hammers on a ‘waterfall white’ backdrop. Both kits are now available at the club shop.
