This past week saw coast-to-coast news across the Canadian Premier League. Out east, the Halifax Wanderers added yet another exciting young player to their squad. In the nation’s capital, Atlético Ottawa recruited a New Zealand international attacker, while in the prairies Valour added an elite full-back. Finally, out west, a pair of young Canadian players have made the move to MLS after strong CPL performances. Here are the biggest stories from across the league this past week:
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Valour FC announce the signing of right-back Zachary Fernandez
Valour FC added one of the Canadian Premier League’s biggest remaining free agents this past week, signing 23-year-old Zachary Fernandez. Since joining the Halifax Wanderers in 2022, Fernandez has proven to be one of the top right-backs in the CPL — making 78 appearances in all competitions with five goals and eight assists. A player with excellent attacking attributes, who is outstanding when getting forward down the right flank, he will help this Valour team to be a lot more direct and dangerous with the ball. He has also developed into a solid defender who can help Valour be more stingy out of possession as well. Fernandez is likely to play on the opposite flank to 2024 Defender of the Year nominee Themi Antonoglou. The Winnipeg club also have Roberto Alarcón as a right full-back option, making it a position of depth after often needing midfielder Dante Campbell to provide cover last year. There is now a legitimate case to be made that Valour have the best full-back duo in the Canadian Premier League heading into the 2025 season. Forge undoubtedly deserve to be in that conversation with the return of Rezart Rama and early glimpses shown by new signing Marko Jevremović, and Cavalry still boast Fraser Aird with the ever dependable Bradley Kamdem. But the Winnipeg club are now right up there with them.
Atlético Ottawa add attacker Monty Patterson
Wednesday saw Atlético Ottawa add a potentially big piece to their attack with the signing of 28-year-old forward Monty Patterson. A 15-times capped New Zealand international, Patterson most recently played in his domestic national league with Birkenhead United — with whom he scored 24 goals this past season in all competitions. Patterson began his career with Ipswich Town in England, also playing in Australia, the United States, and Norway before returning home in 2021. Beyond goals, Patterson brings versatility to the Atlético Ottawa front line. He is capable of playing as a striker, an attacking midfielder or on either wing — allowing Ottawa more unpredictability in how they deploy their group during the season.
Halifax Wanderers sign Canadian youth international defender Adam Pearlman on loan
For the second time in as many weeks, a top young Canadian talent is headed to the East Coast on loan. The Halifax Wanderers announced on Tuesday the signing of 19-year-old central defender Adam Pearlman on loan from Toronto FC for the 2025 season. A Canadian youth international, Pearlman has made 71 appearances in all competitions for Toronto FC II in MLS Next Pro over the past three years. He also made his first-team debut against St. Louis City SC in 2023. As a loan player, Pearlman can contribute up to 1,000 U-21 domestic minutes during the 2025 campaign. He joins a revamped Halifax Wanderers backline which also saw the signing of veteran CPL defender Thomas Meilleur-Giguère in recent months.
Pacific FC’s Emil Gazdov joins CF Montréal in club record transfer
The Canadian Premier League’s reigning Goalkeeper of the Year secured a move to MLS side CF Montréal this past Friday.
Emil Gazdov, 21, spent the past five years as a member of Pacific FC — two of which were spent on loan with the U-19 side of FC Nürnberg in Germany. He made 49 appearances over the past three campaigns in all competitions with the Tridents, also earning a nomination for the league’s Best U-21 Canadian Player of the Year award this past campaign.
Gazdov joins a CF Montréal team that already features another former CPL Goalkeeper of the Year, Jonathan Sirois who won the award with Valour in 2021. He will look to follow in the footsteps of the 23-year-old Sirois, who has parlayed his strong performances with Montréal into multiple call-ups with the Canadian men’s national team.
Vancouver FC transfer James Cameron to MLS’s Colorado Rapids
Another young talent has flown the nest at Vancouver FC, with the announcement on Friday of James Cameron joining MLS side Colorado Rapids. The 20-year-old will start with the Rapids 2 in MLS Next Pro, following two seasons in the Canadian Premier League with Vancouver FC. Cameron first joined the Eagles in 2023 after being discovered at the club’s open trials. In total, the full-back made 37 appearances with Vancouver. He was nominated for the CPL’s Best Canadian U-21 Player Award in 2023. Cameron has also represented Canada at the U-20 level.