It's summer transfer season across the soccer world, and the Canadian Premier League is no exception.
This week saw one of the biggest transfers in league history, as 18-year-old Vancouver FC midfielder Emrick Fotsing joined the Vancouver Whitecaps.
It's the latest in a string of increasingly high-profile moves for young Canadian CPL stars. The past few seasons, in particular, have seen the league make more frequent and valuable transfers as its former players continue to prove themselves abroad.
In fact, two of the top three transfers in league history have come in 2026.
Here are the top five transfers by value in the Canadian Premier League's history:
1. Kwasi Poku
Forge FC to RWD Molenbeek (2024)
The Canadian Premier League's record transfer remains that of former Forge FC forward Kwasi Poku to Belgian club RWD Molenbeek in 2024.
The move came amid a breakout season, as the former left-back began playing as a striker in 2024, went on to scored 10 goal in all competitions and was named the league's Best U-21 Canadian Player of the Year despite leaving for Europe on Aug. 21.
Following his move to Belgium, Poku made his international debut for the Canadian senior men's national team in an October 2024 friendly against Panama.
After spending two seasons in Belgium, Poku recently returned to Canada after a transfer to the Vancouver Whitecaps.
2. Emrick Fotsing
Vancouver FC to Vancouver Whitecaps (2026)
Just a month before his 19th birthday, Vancouver FC midfielder Emrick Fotsing is making a cross-town switch to Major League Soccer's Vancouver Whitecaps.
The move comes on the back of an outstanding Concacaf U-20 Championship, where Fotsing captained a Canadian side that qualified for the U-20 World Cup for the first time in 20 years. But those who have watched him with Vancouver FC over the past two seasons in the CPL have long known his potential and quality. Last year, making his debut as a 17-year-old, he scored four times and now has 39 matches of professional experience under his belt in the CPL.
Fotsing initially joined the Eagles in 2024 after spending time in the CF Montréal academy, including captaining their U-18 side. Earlier this year, Fotsing impressed against that former side over two legs in the TELUS Canadian Championship.
But now he looks primed to make his senior team breakthrough in MLS in the same city where his professional career began in the CPL, Vancouver.
3. Tiago Coimbra
Halifax Wanderers to IFK Göteborg (2026)
After being named the CPL's Best Canadian U-21 Player of the Year in 2025, Coimbra earned a move to Swedish top-division club IFK Göteborg over the offseason.
Over three seasons with the Wanderers, Coimbra scored 20 times, 13 of which came in his final campaign with the club in 2025. The talented 22-year-old striker earned his first senior national team call-up in January.
He has made 13 appearances with IFK Göteborg since his move to Sweden, including three in UEFA Conference League qualifying.
4. Grady McDonnell
Vancouver FC to Club Brugge (2025)
Fotsing's transfer breaks the previous Vancouver FC club record, which was last year's sale of young midfielder Grady McDonnell to Belgian giants Club Brugge.
McDonnell, still just 18, became the youngest player in CPL history to sign a pro contract when he did so at 15 years of age. He made 17 appearances for the Eagles, picking up a pair of assists.
This summer, McDonnell transferred from Club Brugge to English Premier League club Nottingham Forest, with whom he signed a three-year deal.
5. Goteh Ntignee
Cavalry FC to FC Annecy (2023)
Cavalry are a club that has developed a strong reputation for developing Canadian talent and creating a platform for them to reach the next level.
Joel Waterman, who has been to two World Cups with Canada, remains the gold standard. But plenty of other examples, including Aribim Pepple to Luton Town and Victor Loturi to Ross County, highlight Cavalry's excellence at moving their players along the pathway.
Their biggest transfer, however, came in August 2023 when they sent winger Goteh Ntignee to French club FC Annecy.
The 24-year-old Ntignee spent two seasons in France, even scoring a hat-trick in a Coupe de France match before returning to the Calgary club in 2025. He remains one of the most electrifying players in the Canadian Premier League with three goals and five assists in all competitions this year.
