Pacific FC have signed Canadian midfielder Zakaria Bahous for the remainder of the 2023 Canadian Premier League season, with a club option to extend that contract for the 2024 season as well. In a corresponding move, the club loaned Pierre Lamothe to Ho Chi Minh City FC of the V.League 1, the top flight in Vietnam.

Bahous previously spent time in the CPL with Atlético Ottawa, making 42 appearances for the club between the 2022 and 2023 seasons before mutually agreeing to terminate his contract with the club in July. In 2022, he played in 25 of 28 regular season matches as Atlético Ottawa finished top of the table, before playing all three of their playoff games as well, including starting the final against eventual champions Forge FC.

Before joining Ottawa, Bahous spent a few years in the Première ligue de Soccer du Québec (now known as Ligue1 Québec), first with CS Longueuil from 2018-2020, and then FC Laval in 2021.

“Zak has come in very hungry to help the group and integrate as quickly as possible,” said Pacific FC head coach James Merriman. “He is a consistent and versatile young player who has developed in this league, and we believe he has the potential for more.”

He has two goals in the Canadian Premier League, including one against new rivals Vancouver FC, scored earlier this season. His other goal came in the second-last game of the 2022 regular season on the road in Halifax, a great finish that would be the winning goal for a big victory on the road. Bahous had two assists last year as well, one of which came against the Tridents in the first leg of the playoff semifinal at Starlight Stadium.

At the end of last season, Bahous was part of the CPL’s Next Gen class of 2022, which highlighted some of the best young players around the league.

"For me as a player, this is the best environment to progress in and get the best version out of myself"@zakariabahous of @atletiOttawa is the first 2022 Next Gen player, presented by Jones DesLauriers | Navacord 👏#CanPL I 📺 highlights courtesy of @onesoccer pic.twitter.com/Z2oa9OlsY6

— Canadian Premier League (@CPLsoccer) December 6, 2022

Lamothe, who is of Vietnamese descent, joined Pacific FC this past offseason after two seasons with the Halifax Wanderers but has dealt with injuries this year and found playing time hard to come by — limited to just four appearances. His loan stint with Ho Chi Minh City FC is effective immediately and will run through March 10, 2024.

Bahous could make his debut when Pacific FC host Valour FC on Saturday, September 2 at Starlight Stadium. He has a chance to play against his former side Atlético Ottawa on Wednesday, September 13, when Pacific visit the nation’s capital for the final time in the regular season.