Sometimes, even when it is just a sea of separation, a change of scenery can make all the difference.

That is the idea behind a pair of blockbuster intra-league moves announced in the Canadian Premier League on Friday, with Pacific’s Ayman Sellouf joining Vancouver FC, while Vancouver’s Moses Dyer is headed to the Island to join Pacific — both on loan until the end of the season.

The hope for both sides is that these transactions will spark a resurgence in their respective seasons. With just two wins in their past 11 matches, Vancouver FC sit in the fifth and final playoff spot on 23 points. Their last three wins have all come against Pacific FC, and they have not defeated an out-of-province opponent since a May 18 victory against Forge FC.

Pacific, meanwhile, have just two wins in their last 13 — and sit three points behind their provincial rivals and out of the playoffs — albeit with a game in hand. After a solid start to the year, their league-low 14 goals scored in 17 matches has been the leading cause for their slide below the playoff line.

Here is why the moves could provide a significant shake-up for both teams, and what Sellouf will bring to Vancouver FC, and Dyer to Pacific:

Can a switch to ‘The Dark Side’ help Sellouf get back to dominant 2023 levels?

There is no doubt that on his day Ayman Sellouf is one of the best players in the Canadian Premier League. He tied for the league lead in goal contributions with 15 (seven goals, eight assists) in his debut season in 2023, and finished fifth in Players’ Player of the Year voting.

This year, however, Sellouf has been limited to just three goals, all from the penalty spot. With just 630 minutes played over 10 appearances, the 22-year-old has been in and out of the Tridents’ lineup with injury, and not nearly as effective as 2023 when he has been on the pitch.

Vancouver, however, will be hoping that they can once again get the best out of a player with significant technical talent, who can be a true gamebreaker for them over the second half of the campaign.

“I feel that he’s one of the most exciting players in this league,” said Vancouver FC manager Afshin Ghotbi. “His creativity, his ability to break lines on the dribble or in combination, and also you add his quality in scoring goals. I believe he was a very important part that we were missing.”

After an outstanding start to the season offensively, chances and goals have dried up for the Eagles lately, with just nine goals scored in their past nine games — five of which have been scored by Alejandro Díaz. Only Pacific and Valour have fewer expected goals this season.

Adding a player like Sellouf into the attacking mix will only make Vancouver FC more dangerous. They have perhaps lacked a player this year who has been able to consistently connect their solid midfield to the attacking third. He is a player who is dangerous in multiple ways, be that on the dribble, through his passing and crossing ability, and in scoring goals himself.

In his Canadian Premier League career, he has never quite had the chance to play with a striker as prolific as Díaz, and could be critical in providing one of the most goal-dangerous players in the Canadian Premier League with more service. Sellouf tied for the league lead last season with 51 chances created, and assists with eight.

“For the attacking players, it’s free-flowing,” said Sellouf of what he liked about joining Vancouver FC. “And there are a lot of good attacking players on this team. So I think if we can find each other as quick as possible, I think it’s going to create a lot of damage for the opposition because we can actually get the freedom to do what we do best.”

Dyer brings a ‘nose for goal’ to a Pacific side that desperately needs them

On the other side of the Salish Sea, Pacific FC’s search for a productive number nine continues with the acquisition of Moses Dyer.

The Tridents have struggled to find contributions from the striker position ever since Dyer’s former Vancouver FC teammate, Alejandro Díaz left the club midway through a Golden Boot-winning 2022 campaign. Easton Ongaro nor Djenairo Daniels worked out as planned last season, and Reon Moore, Dario Zanatta and Adonijah Reid have combined for just a single goal this season.

Dyer, meanwhile, has scored four in 2024, more than any player currently on the Pacific roster. The 27-year-old New Zealand international has 23 CPL goals to his name dating back to his time with Valour FC between 2020 and 2022.

“We know Moses brings a very aggressive attacking mentality, he can play anywhere across the front three, he’s also played as a central midfielder, more of a number 10 position in behind the striker, or a second striker,” said Pacific FC head coach James Merriman. “He’s something that we need in terms of our aggressiveness going forward, our looking forward first mentality. We knew the time he spent at Valour, what he brought to Valour, what he brought to the league then, and to see him come back into Vancouver and now join us, and we need him to hit the ground running with us in terms of improving our attack.”

It is no secret that Pacific FC have struggled in the final third this season, having scored just 14 times in 17 matches. They also have the fewest expected goals in the league this year, at 18.44 — but have still significantly underperformed that total.

Dyer has consistently gotten into good areas, currently fifth in the league in expected goals with 5.53 and with 10 big chances this year. Only Atlético Ottawa’s Rubén del Campo, meanwhile, has taken more shots inside the box this season.

He is aggressive and direct in the way he leads the line, and is good in the air and at attacking crosses, something that will certainly help with Pacific’s Steffen Yeates and Kunle Dada-Luke among the league leaders in crosses played this season.

The challenge for his teammates will be consistently providing him with good service, as Pacific have played the fewest passes into the box of any team in the Canadian Premier League this season. But Dyer’s movement up top, however, should help make him a more consistent passing option inside the box.

It remains to be seen if the Kiwi striker is the missing piece in the Pacific attack — but there is no question that he has all the attributes to make them significantly more dangerous.