It's that time of year in the Canadian Premier League. Teams are building their rosters for 2026, and each of them wants to make a splash by landing a new star player.
A few clubs have their squads nearly set, and a few have already made some marquee additions. Inter Toronto kicked it off by adding Ollie Bassett, before FC Supra announced their Quebecois trifecta of David Choinière, Sean Rea and Loïc Kwemi.
Just this week, the Halifax Wanderers made maybe the biggest splash yet, signing two-time CPL Golden Glove winner Marco Carducci. It'll be weird seeing the former Cavalry captain pull on a Wanderers jersey, but he might not be the only familiar face donning new colours in 2026.
Here are 10 big names in the CPL who could be on the move for 2026.
Aboubacar Sissoko
Position: Central midfield
Age: 30
Previous club: Atlético Ottawa
The Mali-born, Montreal-raised midfielder might be looking for a starting role somewhere in the CPL after coming off the bench for 21 of his 26 appearances for the champions this past season.
Sissoko is a valuable player, who now has three championships under his belt after winning this year with Ottawa and twice before with Forge. He's a two-way midfielder, who can take away space from attackers and occupy passing lanes, as well as win the ball in the middle of the pitch. Sissoko can progress it forward as well, and also has a decent nose for goal.
He has scored 10 times in the CPL, including a bicycle kick against Forge in 2024 and a screamer from distance for Forge in 2022. He's got a well-rounded skillset that could be an asset to a club with needs in midfield.
Massimo Ferrin
Position: Winger
Age: 27
Previous club: Inter Toronto (formerly York United)
The Mississauga native came into York Lions Stadium with high expectations last year after starring for the Halifax Wanderers, but perhaps didn't have quite the impact he wanted in 2025. Still, he finished with six goals and four assists in all competitions for York United (now Inter Toronto).
Prior to that, Ferrin was an excellent attacker for Halifax, scoring 15 goals and nine assists in his time with the club. He is a direct, aggressive winger who loves to run with the ball, and he can stretch defences or happily take on opposing full-backs.
Plus, Ferrin always seems to have a long-distance goal in his arsenal. The 27-year-old will be hungry to prove he can be a consistent star in the CPL, after Toronto declined his contract option.
Themi Antonoglou
Position: Left-back
Age: 24
Previous club: Valour FC
A former Defender of the Year nominee, Antonoglou was one of the most talented wide defenders the past two years. He's a good two-way full-back and one of the best crossers of the ball in the CPL.
Two years ago, Antonoglou tied for the league lead in assists with seven, and he was joint-third this season with six — four of them from set-pieces this time. In 2025, Antonoglou created 38 chances, which second-most among full-backs.
Antonoglou, still only 24, would be a great addition for any coach who wants to play an attacking style of football out wide.
Aly Ndom
Position: Centre-back
Age: 29
Previous club: Pacific FC
An experienced French defender, Ndom was a bright spot for a struggling Pacific team in 2025. Despite missing four games, he finished third in the league in clearances and 10th in aerial duels won. He's composed with the ball and excellent at defending one-on-one, also commanding space in the box and using his frame to keep defenders away from goal.
Ndom chipped in a surprising amount up front this year for Pacific, scoring five goals. He has a knack for hitting a free kick, and he can also win headers in the air very well.
Prior to signing in the CPL two years ago, Ndom experienced football at all sorts of levels in Europe. He has played 20 matches in France's Ligue 1, and almost 100 in the French second tier. In addition to his home country, Ndom has played in Finland and Romania.
He missed most of the 2024 season after rupturing his Achilles tendon, but it's a credit to Ndom that he came back at the same level in 2025. If he chooses to depart Pacific and stay in the CPL, a lot of clubs will be clamouring for his signature.
Frank Sturing
Position: Centre-back
Age: 28
Previous club: Inter Toronto (formerly York United)
Sturing was one of the CPL's best defenders once he returned from injury and got up to match fitness in 2025, and he was a fundamental part of Toronto's playoff run.
The 28-year-old centre-back is one of the best ball-movers in the CPL, and can fit well in either a back three or four. Born and raised in the Netherlands, he grew up playing for Dutch academy sides who value composure and ability on the ball. He's good in the air too and can contribute a goal here or there — as he did once for the Canadian men's national team in 2021.
He spent two years at York Lions Stadium and became one of the club's leaders, but he's out of contract now and might be moving on. He might be a sneakily outstanding pickup for any side, given his calmness at the back and ability to organize a defence.
Shamit Shome
Position: Central midfield
Age: 28
Previous club: Cavalry FC
Shome's future is up in the air after his contract ended with Cavalry, after spending the last three years there. He was an important piece for them as they won the CPL Shield in 2023 and the North Star Cup in 2024, and he played in each of the last three CPL Finals.
He struggled with injury a little bit in 2025, limited to 25 of Cavalry's 36 games this year, but when he was in the lineup the Cavs were better. Shome is a dependable, well-rounded box-to-box midfielder, who can play a creative ball forward or stop an opposing attack. He's excellent in possession and rarely misplays a pss, but his game has just the right amount of bite.
An Edmonton native, Shome has also been shining on the international stage this year; he has become a key fixture in the Bangladesh national team's setup. That did keep him away from Cavalry a couple of times this year, but the experience seems to have helped his own confidence — plus, Shome's value when he is in the lineup makes it worthwhile.
Amer Didić
Position: Centre-back
Age: 30
Previous club: Atlético Ottawa
A perennial defensive force in the CPL, the six-foot-four Didić is likely to hit the market after his contract ended with Atlético Ottawa. He had a difficult 2025; although the year started well for him, Didić broke his leg during a game in early May, and missed the rest of the year.
It's unclear whether he'll be fully ready to go come opening day in 2026, but just under a year after the injury occurred should mean he's at least close.
Once healthy, Didić will bring a lot to the table for any club. He's an exceptionally imposing centre-back with leadership qualities at the back. Two years ago (his last full season), he finished third in the CPL in clearances and led the league in aerial duels won, also completing the fourth-most passes.
Didić, now 30 years old, does now have a CPL championship under his belt with Ottawa this year, but he'd surely like to win another where he can contribute more on the pitch. Any team, particularly one with a younger defensive group, would be thrilled to acquire him.
Fraser Aird
Position: Right-back
Age: 30
Previous club: Cavalry FC
Cavalry have announced that they remain in discussions with Aird, but that doesn't guarantee a return to ATCO Field. The 30-year-old right-back could look elsewhere, as one of the league's top ball deliverers and creative full-backs.
Aird created the second-most chances in the CPL this year with 54 and led all full-backs in successful long balls with 104. He also played the most successful crosses in the league with 62; he has consistently been able to find his target when whipping in balls from the flank, either in open play or from a corner.
Alexander Achinioti-Jönsson
Position: Defender/Midfielder
Age: 29
Previous club: Forge FC
A stalwart of Forge FC for the past seven years, the Swede is currently out of contract in Hamilton and might be choosing to move on. A natural midfielder, Achinioti-Jönsson played a lot of time at centre-back under Bobby Smyrniotis, and was so good at it that he won the CPL's first Defender of the Year award in 2022.
The 29-year-old might want a new challenge, after winning four CPL championships with Forge. He has played 223 games for the Hammers, including 37 this year, appearing in every single game for the club. Achinioti-Jönsson is an extremely intelligent footballer and a dream for a heavily tactics-minded coach. He's one of the best ball distributors in the CPL, and can hit a pass to pretty much anywhere on the field, whether he's in midfield or the backline.
He has been clear in the past that he prefers playing in central midfield, though; perhaps his decision could be swayed by a club that can commit to playing him there?
Nathan Ingham
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 32
Previous club: Atlético Ottawa
The starting keeper from the reigning CPL champions might be testing the waters after four years in Ottawa.
Ingham, who has been nominated for the Golden Glove award three times (including this year), has 171 matches of experience with CPL teams, split between Atlético and Toronto. This past season, he played every single minute for Ottawa, wearing the captain's armband in most games — including the Final.
The 32-year-old native of Keswick, Ont. led all CPL goalkeepers with at least 500 minutes played this year in save percentage (74.1 per cent), ranking second in saves and goals conceded per 90. He helped keep 11 clean sheets, setting a new club record for Atleti.
If the time has come for Ingham to test himself at a new club, he would slot straight into any team's leadership group right away.
