It is just a month into the 2026 CPL season, but many players across the league have kicked off the season in style.
New stars are already emerging as team's off-season signings go from on paper to on the pitch. From established CPL players who are thriving in a new environment, to those who are playing their first minutes in the league, there have been several standouts through the first four matchweeks.
Here are five signings who have already established themselves as key players within the league, and with their new clubs:
GK - Dimitry Bertaud (Forge FC)
Inheriting the Forge net from the 2025 CPL Golden Glove winner, Jassem Koleilat, Dimitry Bertaud has already managed to set a club record in his first four league matches by keeping a clean sheet in each of them.
He has now blanked Forge's opponent in five of his six appearances for the club in all competitions, including an incredible seven-save debut in the Concacaf Champions Cup against Tigres UANL.
Credit is absolutely owed to the Forge backline, because in three of the four matches in which he played, he didn't have to make a single save. But when he has been called upon since joining the Hamilton club, Bertaud's quality has been clear — and often his decisiveness and organization in his own area has limited futher clear-cut chances.
It's why there is a chance he could find himself at this summer's FIFA World Cup with DR Congo.
FB - Morey Doner (Vancouver FC)
Returning to the Canadian Premier League after departing following the 2021 season, Doner has been a revelation at right-back for the Eagles.
Outstanding on both sides of the ball, the rapid and relentless 32-year-old leads the Canadian Premier League in chances created this season with 10. He finally picked up his first assist in Sunday's 1-1 draw with Atlético Ottawa, but has been unlucky not to have more, as he has put up 1.23 expected assists so far this season, the league's second most.
Doner has also won a league-leading 19 fouls through four matches played, and won 29 duels, the second most in the Canadian Premier League this season.
MF - Harry Paton (Cavalry FC)
After making a cameo appearance at the end of 2025 with Forge FC, midfielder Harry Paton has taken on a starring role with their rivals Cavalry FC this season.
He made an incredible first impression by scoring in each of his first two matches for his new club.
But it has been Paton's overall impact on all areas of the game since joining Cavalry which has really stood out. With the ball, he has created seven chances, and leads the league in successful passes ending in the final third with 50.
He has also won a league-leading 10 tackles, and is tied for second in the league in possession won, having done so 26 times.
CB - Diego Konincks (Pacific FC)
Just four matches into his career with the Tridents, the 25-year-old Dutch defender is already pulling on the captain's armband.
A tenacious defender, Konincks has contributed offensively as well with a goal and an assist to his name this campaign.
Excellent on the ball, he currently sits fourth in the league in successful passes, with 241 (and a 91.3 accuracy rate).
He has also won a league-leading 14 of 16 aerial duels so far this season and won 71 per cent of the 31 overall duels he has contested. He has made the second-most clearances in the CPL this season with 21.
MF - Sean Rea (FC Supra du Québec)
Returning home to join FC Supra du Québec for their inaugural season, the Montréal-born Rea has been a key catalyst in their impressive success out of the gate.
This past weekend, he assisted on the winning goal in FC Supra's first-ever home victory. He scored in the club's inaugural match, which also ended in a win, 3-2 against Pacific FC.
With an incredible nine chances created through three games, he leads the league in expected assists with 1.29, and well as expected goals on target at 2.02, and is tied for the CPL lead in shots on target, with seven.
