York9 FC player unveiled the status of a number of its players for the 2021 CPL season on Wednesday, announcing a crop of returnees and several high-profile players who are either out of contract or have left the club.

Y9 confirmed five departures: Joseph Di Chiara, Julian Altobelli, Ezequiel Carrasco, Gabriel Vasconcelos and Brian Lopez. Midfield stalwart Di Chiara and youngster Altobelli decided to depart the team, while the other three saw their options declined.

In total, 14 players are confirmed for 2021: Goalkeeper Nathan Ingham; defenders Morey Doner, Diyaeddine Abzi and Ryan Lindsay; midfielders Max Ferrari, Jordan Wilson, Ijah Halley, Isiah Johnston, Michael Petrasso and Mateo Hernandez; and forwards Alvaro Rivero, Lowell Wright, Julian Ulbricht and Nicholas Hamilton.

Also, defender Fugo Segawa is on a club option for 2021.

Hamilton and Petrasso are on loan at Dundee FC (Scotland) and Barnet FC (England), respectively, until July 1st, 2021. Ferrari and Rivero recently signed new contracts.

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Y9 also disclosed players who are out of contract: Matthew Arnone, Kyle Porter, Luca Gasparotto, Roger Thompson, Wataru Murofushi, Ryan Telfer, Manny Aparicio, Chris Mannella, and Jace Kotsopoulos.

Negotiations are ongoing with these players, which includes Island Games standout Aparicio, the Canadian Premier League’s inaugural goals corer Telfer, and club ironman Gasparotto, according to Y9 managing consultant Angus McNab.

“We continue to have discussions with a number of players who are out of contract and there are guys there that we would like to retain,” McNab stated. “I’m sure there will be announcements regarding a number of these guys in the coming weeks.”

As for the released players, McNab suggested that every case is different, starting with Lopez who was unable to join the club for The Island Games due to restrictions around the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Brian Lopez had an unbelievably tough situation, Gabriel (Vasconcellos) is a great human and a phenomenal addition for his next club and for Zeke it’s not the correct thing for his football development. Zeke needs to play games and we can’t offer that. He’ll stay close to the squad but won’t be on the initial roster for 2021,” McNab said.

York9 disappointed at The Island Games, finishing with a 2-4-1 record and failing to make the tournament’s second round. The team scored just eight goals across seven matches, most of which coming from set pieces.

2021 Contracted Players:
GK: Nathan Ingham
DF: Morey Doner
DF: Diyaeddine Abzi
DF: Ryan Lindsay (U21)
M: Jordan Wilson
M: Ijah Halley (U21)
M: Isiah Johnston (U21)
M: Michael Petrasso
M: Mateo Hernandez
M: Max Ferrari (U21)
F: Lowell Wright (U21)
F: Julian Ulbricht (international)
F: Nicholas Hamilton (international)
F: Alvaro Rivero

Out-of-contract:
DF: Luca Gasparotto
DF: Roger Thompson
DF: Matthew Arnone
M: Wataru Murofushi (international)
M: Kyle Porter
M: Manny Aparicio
M: Chris Mannella
F: Jace Kotsopoulos
F: Ryan Telfer

Option picked up:
D: Fugo Segawa (International)

Option not taken:
GK: Ezequiel Carrasco
M: Brian Lopez (International)
F: Gabriel Vasconcellos (International)

Released at own request:
M: Julian Altobelli (U21)
M: Joseph Di Chiara