Call it the cavalry returning to Cavalry.
At a moment when the club’s season has tilted from confident stride to searching stumble, one of the Canadian Premier League’s most decorated defenders is back to steady the course.
Cavalry FC announced Thursday the return of Daan Klomp, the former CPL Player of the Year and two-time Defender of the Year, on a contract through the 2027 season.
The 27-year-old Dutch centre-back rejoins after a brief stint in Belgium with RAAL La Louviere and will be available for selection as early as Sunday’s home clash against Vancouver FC at ATCO Field.
For Cavalry, this is not just the return of a familiar face. It is the homecoming of a pillar who has defined the club’s identity in recent years.
Klomp was a driving force behind Cavalry’s rise to the top of the CPL, playing 121 times between 2021 and 2024, scoring 17 goals, adding five assists, and anchoring a backline that lifted both the 2023 CPL Shield and the 2024 North Star Cup.
In the process, he became the only player in league history to win back-to-back Defender of the Year honours.
“Daan’s return is perfect for our run-in and longer-term planning,” said Tommy Wheeldon Jr., Cavalry’s head coach and general manager.
“Not only is he a big presence out on the pitch, but he also carries a big leadership role within our locker room. He’s been a pivotal part of our successes in recent years and has shown to have been one of the league’s best players. I am delighted to have him back and I’m sure our fans will be too.”
A season in need of some spark
The timing of Klomp’s return is hard to ignore. Cavalry are winless in their last four matches and have collected just two victories in their past nine outings (2W-4L-3D).
Their last triumph came nearly a month ago, a 2-1 win away to Valour FC on July 20. For a side that prides itself on consistency and defensive steel, the slide has been frustrating.
But the champions are fighting to keep pace in a tightly contested 2025 CPL campaign and bringing back a player who once embodied their competitive edge could be the jolt they need. It is a move that restores a proven leader to a side in need of stability.
A sizeable presence at the heart of defence, Klomp is more than just a defensive enforcer. His aerial dominance, composure in possession, and surprising knack for goals from set-pieces made him a rare two-way threat during his first spell.
Those qualities are exactly what Cavalry hope will help them rediscover their rhythm.
Klomp, for his part, is eager to slot back in where he left off. “I’m excited to be back home, where I’ve had a lot of success and achieved great things with my teammates,” Klomp said. “I can’t wait to wear the crest and play in front of the fans on ATCO Field again.”
From a journey abroad to returning home
Klomp’s exit last winter was seen as the natural progression of a player whose performances had outgrown the domestic stage.
After training with his boyhood club NAC Breda and going on trial with A-League side Adelaide United, he signed with La Louviere in Belgium’s Challenger Pro League.
But after the club earned promotion to the Belgian Pro League, Klomp was left out of the matchday squads for the opening fixtures of the new campaign.
Earlier this month, his contract was terminated by mutual agreement, paving the way for a swift reunion with Cavalry.
For Cavalry supporters, the sight of Klomp back in red will mean more than just defensive reinforcement. In many ways, he has been the embodiment of Wheeldon Jr.’s vision: resilient, consistent, and unafraid of the biggest moments
And now, he returns with the chance to spark another title charge.
