In the first week back from the holidays, Canadian Premier League teams wasted no time getting to business as the news week was chock-full of notable signings, transfers and departures. Forge, Halifax, York and Valour all made high-profile additions, while Pacific and Atlético Ottawa said goodbye to some key players. There was also coaching news, a big European transfer, and plenty more you may have missed from a scintillating week of roster news. Here are the biggest stories from this past week across the league:
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Forge add Players’ Player of the Year Brian Wright, say goodbye to Garven Metusala
When it comes to the Canadian Premier League off-season, nobody quite does it like Forge FC. The latest example is the signing of 2024 Players’ Player of the Year Brian Wright from rivals York United to fill their crucial need at number nine. The 29-year-old Wright joined the Hammers after a career-best CPL campaign which saw him score nine goals, and add six assists. Wright has now been a member of all three Ontario teams. He played two seasons for Atlético Ottawa prior to joining York United for the past two campaigns. Bringing in a number nine was a clear priority for the 2024 CPL Shield winners, as they struggled to find goals and production from that position following the departure of 2024 CPL Best U-21 Canadian Player Kwasi Poku midway through the season. A proven striker like Wright certainly answers a lot of those questions. Forge also said goodbye to central defender Garven Metusala this week. The 25-year-old Haiti international has joined the Colorado Switchbacks of USL Championship after four successful seasons with Forge following his selection in the 2021 CPL-U SPORTS Draft.
Atlético Ottawa’s de Brienne transferred to Sweden
It was a week of transfer news in the nation’s capital, none more notable than Monday’s sale of Matteo de Brienne to Swedish top-division side GAIS. He signed a five-year contract with his new club. The 22-year-old heads to Sweden following three seasons in the Canadian Premier League, including winning the CPL’s Best U-21 Canadian Player Award in 2023 while a member of Valour FC. In 75 matches for CPL clubs during that time, he scored six goals and added three assists. De Brienne wasn’t the only player Atleti officially said goodbye to this week. On Friday, the club announced that Kris Twardek had been transferred to Valour, while club options for Zachary Roy and Rayane Yesli had been declined. Rubén del Campo and Jesús del Amo, meanwhile, depart following the expiration of their contracts.
Yesli heads east to join Halifax
After a season where they allowed the most goals in club history (43) and joint most in the Canadian Premier League, the Halifax Wanderers have wasted no time in addressing their defensive woes. Having already signed experienced CPL defender Thomas Meilleur-Giguère earlier in the off-season, Halifax added 25-year-old Rayane Yesli in net. The former Atlético Ottawa goalkeeper was nominated for the league’s Golden Glove award in 2023, but is coming off a season where he played just 11 times after backing up Nate Ingham for most of the year. Back in a number one role, Yesli will be looking to have a bounce-back year on a Halifax team that will be desperate to do the same after missing the playoffs in 2024. Halifax also announced this week that captain Andre Rampersad has signed a new contract. The Trinidad and Tobago international signed through 2026, with a club option for 2027. He is back for his seventh season with the Wanderers.
Valour secure Twardek from Atleti; bolster goalkeeping with Himaras signing
After securing the return of multiple key members of their 2024 squad to begin the off-season, Valour have set out to add a few new names to that group over the past week. On Friday, they announced the acquisition of winger/full-back Kris Twardek from Atlético Ottawa. The 27-year-old Canadian international heads to Winnipeg after playing 22 matches with the capital club this past season. Earlier in the week, the Winnipegers added to their goalkeeping corps by signing former York United player Eleias Himaras. The 22-year-old made twelve appearances for York during three seasons with the club. Valour also made some announcements on the coaching side of things this week as they confirmed Phil Dos Santos will be back for the 2025 season as head coach. Assistant Jay Bhindi and Strength and Conditioning coach Daniel Guerreiro have departed the club.
York United add local pair Reid and Ferrazzo
There were a pair of homecomings for the Nine Stripes this week as the club added some local talent to bolster their 2025 roster. On Tuesday, York announced the signing of 25-year-old Brampton-born attacker Adonijah Reid, formerly of Pacific FC. He spent the past two seasons with the Tridents, scoring five goals and adding eight assists in all competitions. Perhaps his biggest moment with the club was scoring a late playoff winner against York United in 2023. Thursday, meanwhile, saw the Nine Stripes put pen to paper with former Halifax Wanderers full-back Riley Ferrazzo. The 25-year-old from Richmond Hill, Ont. can play on both flanks, giving York some important tactical versatility. He scored two goals, and added three assists, in 45 matches with Halifax.
Vancouver FC secure goalkeeping tandem
After missing the playoffs for a second consecutive year, there is expected to be a reasonable amount of turnover in Vancouver this off-season. But that won’t be the case at the goalkeeper position. The Eagles announced on Thursday that both members of their 2024 goalkeeping tandem will be returning next year. That includes the club’s first-ever signing, 31-year-old Callum Irving who was nominated for the CPL’s Golden Glove Award this past year. The club captain has played in 57 of VFC’s 58 all-time matches. Also returning is 30-year-old CPL veteran Niko Giantsopoulos. While he did not make an appearance this past season, the veteran of 65 appearances between Cavalry FC and York United since the league’s inaugural season brings crucial experience and leadership to the locker room. The Eagles also announced this week that Afshin Ghotbi will return for a third season as the club’s head coach.
Mukumbilwa returning for Pacific as Dyer departs
One final bit of news to conclude a busy week in the CPL, Pacific FC announced on Friday that they are bringing back Georges Mukumbilwa. The 25-year-old full-back has been a member of Pacific since the 2022 season. He has made 60 appearances for the Island club since joining from the Vancouver Whitecaps. Pacific also officially said goodbye to Moses Dyer, who joined the club on loan in August from rivals Vancouver FC. Dyer played a crucial role in the Tridents reaching the playoffs, scoring four goals after switching sides in the Salish Sea Derby. However, it was announced on Sunday that the 27-year-old New Zealand international has signed with Galway United of the Ireland Premier Division.