MLS Multiplex
Fansided

Montreal Impact: 2020 Preview – Canadian Champions again?

By Matt Coles

MONTREAL, QC - SEPTEMBER 18: Montreal Impact midfielder Saphir Taider (8) celebrates Montreal Impact midfielder Ignacio Piatti (10) goal during the Toronto FC versus the Montreal Impact game on September 18, 2019, at Stade Saputo in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - SEPTEMBER 18: Montreal Impact midfielder Saphir Taider (8) celebrates Montreal Impact midfielder Ignacio Piatti (10) goal during the Toronto FC versus the Montreal Impact game on September 18, 2019, at Stade Saputo in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next
MONTREAL, CANADA – APRIL 28: Orji Okwonkwo #18 of the Montreal Impact about to gacontrols of the ball against the Chicago Fire at Saputo Stadium on April 28, 2019 in Montreal, Quebec. (Photo by Stephane Dube /Getty Images)
MONTREAL, CANADA – APRIL 28: Orji Okwonkwo #18 of the Montreal Impact about to gacontrols of the ball against the Chicago Fire at Saputo Stadium on April 28, 2019 in Montreal, Quebec. (Photo by Stephane Dube /Getty Images) /

Offseason Summary

Squad Retention

Going forward, the Impact have an abundance of talent, including loan stars from 2019, Orji Okwonkwo and Lassi Lappalainen. The club has been able to seal another year on loan for the Nigerian, while the Finnish forward will be with the side until June.

The Impact can also call on the likes of Maxi Urruti, Spaniard Bojan Krkić and home favourite Anthony Jackson-Hamel in the attacking department this season.

Argentine Ignacio Piatti and Algerian midfielder Saphir Taider, the club’s top scorer in 2019, will also look to add goals from deeper, while the likes of Rudy Camacho and Rod Fanni add French experience at the heart of Montreal’s defence.

More from MLS Multiplex

The club has kept all three goalkeepers that were used over the course of the 2019 campaign, with Evan Bush remaining the side’s No.1 going forward.

Transfers & SuperDraft Picks

Following the conclusion of the 2019 MLS campaign, Montreal declined the option of five of their players, including three Canadians, in Thomas Meilleur-Giguere, Jason Beaulieu and Daniel Kinumbe, with the latter two signing for HFX Wanderers FC for the 2020 term.

Japanese midfielder Ken Krolicki and Chilean Jeisson Vargas also saw their options declined, with the latter going back to his home nation, while Krolicki signed for Portland Timbers 2.

One of their best players from the 2019 campaign, Bacary Sagna, also left the side after becoming out of contract following the regular-season.

The Impact also saw two more of their most experienced defenders leave the club, with Daniel Lovitz traded to Nashville SC for TAM, GAM and an international roster spot, while Argentinian Victor Cabrera was traded to Houston Dynamo.

In return for the defender, Montreal got Honduran winger Romell Quioto in the deal, and he is one of five players to have signed for the side ahead of the 2020 season.

Joel Waterman has signed from Cavalry FC, one of the sides the Impact defeated en route to the 2019 Canadian Championship title, while they have also brought two Canadians back to their homeland following spells in Europe.

Zachary Brault-Guillard joined from Olympique Lyonnais, while Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla is back for his second spell with Montreal, following two years with FC Barcelona, where he featured regularly for the B team.

The club only selected one player in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft, picking North Carola Tar Heels midfielder Jeremy Kelly with the 9th overall pick, but he was immediately traded to the Colorado Rapids for $75,000 GAM.

Home/CF Montreal