Valour FC revealed another major off-season acquisition on Tuesday, as the club announced they’ve signed full-back Zachary Fernandez to a one-year contract with an option to extend through 2026. Fernandez, a 23-year-old native of Blainville, Que., spent the last three seasons in the CPL with the Halifax Wanderers, making 78 appearances in all competitions while contributing five goals and eight assists. He first signed for Halifax in 2022 after a season in Ligue1 Quebec with AS Blainville, which he’d joined after playing his youth football in the CF Montreal academy. Fernandez proved himself to be one of the most exciting wide defenders in the CPL, with a particular knack for a long-distance goal or a dangerous cross into the box. “Zach will elevate the quality of our back line as he’s a real competitor.” said Valour head coach Phillip Dos Santos. “He adds a different dimension to the way we can utilize our fullbacks. He’s a true competitor, a player you hate to play against but love having on your side. He fits the mentality and identity we want to bring to our squad. The truth is that today, with Zach, we are a better team.” Fernandez joins a strengthening Valour squad where he’s likely to compete with Roberto Alarcón for minutes in the right-back position. That said, Fernandez is also capable of playing higher up the pitch, having done so as a winger on occasion in Halifax. “Sometimes you need change to take another step forward,” Fernandez told valourfootball.club’s Ed Tait this week. “That was part of my thinking. This is a change; a new environment and I wanted to get out of my comfort zone a little bit. “I bring a lot of emotion and passion. I’m a skilled player offensively that is responsible defensively. I want to contribute to both areas and in the past year or so I’ve been working on my leadership, which could be a good factor for me as well even in a new team.” He’s the eighth new addition to Valour’s squad for the 2025 campaign, and the fourth to join from another CPL side as the Winnipeg club stocks up on experience in hopes of securing its first-ever playoff spot this year.
Written by:Charlie O'Connor Clarke