After arguably the most competitive season in Canadian Premier League history, the league enters an incredibly important off-season. With margins so thin between the CPL’s eight teams, the importance of successful recruitment and roster composition ahead of the 2024 campaign becomes especially integral as clubs look to either improve on or maintain their 2023 position. As the calendar turns to 2024 there has already been plenty of movement. With most teams having sorted out which of their 2023 players will be returning for next year, they now turn their attention toward filling what gaps remain in their respective rosters. Here is a look at one signing that could bolster each of the league’s eight teams:
Atlético Ottawa: Experienced central defender
There has no doubt been a lot of soul-searching in the nation’s capital after the club tumbled all the way from the top of the table, and an appearance in the CPL Final, in 2022, to sixth place and missing the playoffs in 2023. There are a few different areas that the club will be looking to address ahead of 2024, but given how the off-season has transpired thus far, central defender appears to be a big priority. With loan deals for both Diego Espejo and Luke Singh expiring, and Macdonald Niba leaving the club, Ottawa are left with limited options at centre-back. Remaining are young Tyr Walker, who impressed enough in limited minutes in 2023 to earn a pro deal for this upcoming season, as well as solid veteran defender Karl Ouimette, who was quality in his first CPL season. But more depth in the position is certainly needed, especially if they want to once again deploy a back three as they did at times during this past season. Perhaps, this will be another opportunity for Ottawa to delve into their Spanish connections. The club has had great success with Atlético Madrid B players like Espejo and Sergio Camus joining on loan, and while perhaps not a long-term solution could bring the necessary quality to their backline for 2024.
Cavalry FC: Attacking depth
After winning the league by 13 points this past season, Cavalry don’t really need to make significant movement ahead of the 2024 campaign, especially after announcing the acquisition of Valour captain Diego Gutiérrez to shore up their midfield. However, with Goteh Ntignee departing the club late last season, and forwards Gareth Smith-Doyle and Joe Mason leaving as well, they could likely use some additional depth up top, especially with their Concacaf Champions Cup Round One tie against Orlando City just around the corner. Cavalry still boasts the best attacking unit in the league with the likes of Golden Boot winner Myer Bevan, Players’ Player of the Year Ali Musse and goals-per-90 leader William Akio. They have already added to that with the acquisition of Australian youth international winger Lleyton Brooks. But having different offensive weapons to bring off the bench proves crucial over a long season, especially, as they perhaps learned, in knockout fixtures, and adding to that group will be a big key for Cavalry this offseason.
Forge FC: Ball-playing central defender
In one of the biggest surprise moves of the off-season thus far, Forge FC transferred 2023 Defender of the Year nominee Manjrekar James to Costa Rican club Alajuelense. This leaves a significant hole to fill in the centre of defence for the 2023 playoff champions, especially with Alexander Achinioti-Jönsson’s status unclear. The club still has the likes of Dom Samuel, Malik Owolabi-Belewu and Garven Metusala under contract, who could play a bigger role in 2024. But given the team’s identity in controlling matches with the ball, and the fact that James and AAJ finished third and fourth respectively in the league in terms of successful passes played, it is incredibly important to have a central defender in the lineup who can progress the ball. That will now likely be at the top of the club’s shopping list for 2024, and one that they will probably want done quickly as they host Chivas Guadalajara on Feb. 7 in the Concacaf Champions Cup.
Halifax Wanderers: Number nine
After undoubtedly the best regular season in Halifax’s history, the club was able to keep the vast majority of their key players from 2023. However, one area that looks as though it will see significant turnover is up top, with strikers João Morelli announcing his retirement, Théo Collomb leaving the club and Jordan Perruzza being recalled from his loan. The club’s one remaining central striker, Tiago Coimbra, showed flashes of quality in his first professional season, scoring three goals and adding an assist. But if Patrice Gheisar and his team want to build on their 2023 success, adding some depth at the number nine position will be key.
Pacific FC: Number nine
This is a bit of a theme around the league after a year where a number of forwards underperformed, and perhaps no club saw that more prevalently than Pacific. Pacific created more scoring chances than any other club during the 2023 season, but ultimately underperformed their expected goals by 3.7. Easton Ongaro returned to the CPL as one of the league’s historically most prolific strikers, but struggled in the Pacific system, scoring just five goals this past season. Fellow number nine Djenairo Daniels managed just three. The Islanders still haven’t been able to truly replace the impact of 2022 Golden Boot winner Alejandro Díaz since he departed for Norway, and finding a player who can provide a consistent source of goals in 2024 is a priority.
Valour FC: A creative midfielder
After finishing last in the table, there are a few areas in which Valour undoubtedly could use an influx of talent. That is especially true offensively, after scoring the fewest goals in the league this past season. But one area of the squad where there has not been nearly enough depth or consistency over the past few campaigns has been in the middle of the park. That issue only gets exacerbated now that captain Diego Gutiérrez has departed for Cavalry. With Dante Campbell, Juan Pablo Sánchez and Marcello Polisi under contract, ideally one that can create and finish scoring opportunities, a player that Valour has lacked since the departure of 2022 CPL Best U-21 Canadian Player Sean Rea. Kian Williams has shown well when deployed at the number ten, but having more options at that position can only be a benefit to the Winnipeg club.
Vancouver FC: Experience at fullback
During their inaugural season in the league, Vancouver FC actually addressed a lot of their needs on the fly, and by the end of the campaign were able to put together a fairly formidable squad. With that being said, there is still plenty of work to do if the club wants to make its first ever playoff appearance in 2024. One position where the club could probably use some depth and experience, especially since Kadin Chung has often been deployed as a midfielder under Afshin Ghotbi, is at fullback. This past season, Vancouver largely relied on youngsters Tyler Crawford, James Cameron (who was nominated for Best U-21 Canadian Player) and Min-jae Kwak. There is certainly quality in that group, but adding a bit more experience, especially to a backline that is incredibly young in general, could prove invaluable for the club that conceded the most goals in the league (50) this past season.
York United FC: Experienced central defender
With a new ownership group coming in place, the Pasquel brothers have started building their squad for 2024, and a key area of need has already emerged. That is at central defender, or the backline in general, where the club was already a little bit light this past season. The only primary central defender on the roster currently is 19-year-old Noah Abatneh, who showed well in his first professional season but could certainly use at least one veteran partner at the back. With Roger Thompson announcing his retirement, Paris Gee departing and Tass Mourdoukoutas joining Valour most of the experience on the York backline won’t be back for 2023. Defensive play in general was a big issue for the Nine Stripes in 2023 as they conceded the second most goals in the league, with 44, and the second most expected goals at 44.22. Adding players that can change that in 2024 will be essential to maintaining their playoff position.