Cavalry FC defender Joel Waterman has been transferred to Montreal Impact. The 23-year-old has signed a two-year deal with the Major League Soccer (MLS) outfit and is the first-ever player from the Canadian Premier League (CPL) to be sold to another league on a permanent transfer.
“My time at Cavalry was very special to me for many reasons,” said Waterman via a Cavalry FC statement Tuesday. “I got to play with my closest friends at a professional level and learn things about myself not only as a player but as a person. Most importantly I was part of an historic season with a club that is so much more than what they achieve on the pitch.”
Waterman’s versatility proved a major contributing factor to his move, according to Impact sporting director Olivier Renard.
Loading ...“We are happy to welcome Joel to the Impact,” said Renard via a club statement Tuesday. “He’s a centre-back that can play every position in a three or four-man defensive line, and also as a defensive midfielder. He’s a player with the right mentality, and he comes to Montreal following a good season in CPL.”
And Cavalry FC manager Tommy Wheeldon Jr. believes his now former defender will live up to his potential.
“The opportunity for Joel to play for one of the game’s greats, Thierry Henry, is something we couldn’t deny him,” said Wheeldon Jr. via a club statement Tuesday. “Joel is fully deserving of the attention he got after the high level of performances he displayed this year for us in the Canadian Premier League, showing class and consistency in abundance.
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“As a club we wish him all the best in his future and thank him for being one of the historic first Cavalry FC players in our history. Whilst Joel leaves big shoes to fill, he also creates another opportunity for another young Canadian player to fulfill their dreams of playing professionally in their country”.
Joel Waterman made 25 appearances in all competitions for Cavalry FC in 2019, scoring one goal and assisting in three others.
At the time of publishing, neither club had disclosed a transfer fee.
