The Montreal Impact added a physical presence to its midfield to partner with club captain Samuel Piette.
Kenyan midfielder Victor Wanyama joined the Canadian club from English Premier League side Tottenham on Tuesday. Wanyama signed a Designated Player contract following a free transfer from England, signing a three-year contract with the club.
The Impact acquired Wanyama’s MLS Discovery rights from the New England Revolution in exchange for $150,000 in General Allocation Money.
“Victor is an important player with a great career,” Impact Sporting Director Olivier Renard said. “His undeniable experience will also help support the young players and help them progress.”
The 28-year-old makes the move to MLS after totaling four seasons with Tottenham. In his time under Mauricio Pochettino and Jose Mourinho, Wanyama registered six goals and one assist in 69 Premier League appearances. He helped Spurs reach the 2018 UEFA Champions League Final despite not dressing in the final against Liverpool. He also won the Premier League Goal of the Month award for his strike against the Reds in Feb. 2018.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNVxq_DFE-M]
Wanyama also has played for Southampton, Scottish Premiership side Celtic, and Belgium club Beerschot AC. He won two Scottish Premiership titles and one FA Cup.
Earning 56 caps with the Kenyan National Team, Wanyama is also the team captain, participating in both World Cup Qualifying and the Africa Cup of Nations. He’s scored six goals for his country.
“I’m really happy to join an exciting club like the Montreal Impact,” Wanyama said. “MLS continues to grow every season and I’m looking forward to bringing further awareness to this team, city and league across Africa. When I spoke to Thierry and he told me he wanted me to join him in Montreal, I didn’t have to think twice.”
“He has always been a player that I’ve admired, and I am really happy to get the opportunity to work with him and to play a part that can ensure that the Montreal Impact have an improved season and hopefully reach the ultimate stages of the competitions in which we compete. I think the Saputo family and the management team in Montreal have a great plan in place and I am hoping I can make a great contribution to the success of this project.”
The Impact are 1-0-0 so far in MLS play after a 2-1 Opening Day win over the New England Revolution.
Victor is still one of my favorite (former) Spurs player. He is not the same player he was pre-injuries and he no longer is a Premier League top half level player, but still plays at a great level for MLS. Still massively strong and underrated with his movement. Passing can leave a little to be desired. Excellent at winning the ball back, classic destroyer. But he will need quick skillful players around him to really shine. Just a Spurs fans’ 2 cents.
Unless he has lost a lot in the recent past, a great signing. MLS is starting to get more and more players from top 5 European leagues. A major development.