HAMILTON, Ont. – September 11, 2026 – Forge FC of the Canadian Premier League (CPL) today announced the signing of Canadian international defender Manjrekar James to a Standard Player Contract guaranteed through the 2027 season.
James, 33, re-joins Forge after most recently playing for Wellington Phoenix in Australia's A-League, where he made 20 appearances and scored two goals in the 2025-26 season. The centre-back's return reunites him with the club where he previously anchored one of the league's top defences.
"We're thrilled to welcome Manjrekar back to Forge," said Bobby Smyrniotis, Head Coach & Sporting Director, Forge FC. "He knows our environment and what it takes to win here, and his international pedigree and experience across multiple continents will add real quality and leadership to our group."
In his first stint with Forge in 2023, James appeared in 31 matches, helping the club capture the CPL championship. Manjrekar was transferred to LD Alajuelense in January 2024 for one of the highest transfer fees in league history at that time. Over his two seasons there, he made more than 50 appearances and won the Concacaf Central American Cup in 2024 along with back-to-back Recopa titles, before a 2025 loan spell with Santos de Guápiles.
Internationally, James made his senior debut for Canada in 2015 at 21 years old and has earned 17 caps, scoring two goals. His extensive European career included stops in Denmark's Superligaen with FC Midtjylland — featuring a UEFA Champions League appearance — Vejle Boldklub, Ukraine's Chornomorets Odesa, and earlier spells across the Hungarian and Greek top flights.
Additionally, Forge confirms that midfielder Khadim Kane has been placed on the Season-Ending Injury List for the remainder of the 2026 CPL season and has been removed from the Primary Roster and added to the Inactive List.
Kane signed with Forge in 2023 at the age of seventeen and was part of the club's fourth league title run that October. He scored his first professional goal in a 2-0 win over Pacific FC in April 2025. Internationally, Kane has represented Canada at the U20 level, including at the 2024 CONCACAF U-20 Championship.
Quick Facts About Manjrekar:
Name: Manjrekar James
Pronunciation: Muhn-jray-ker Jaymz
Position: Defender
Birthdate: August 5, 1993
Birthplace: Roseau, Dominica
Nationality: Canadian
Last Club: Wellington Phoenix