Atletico Ottawa Signs Canadian Striker Malcolm Shaw

Canadian Premier League expansion side Atletico Ottawa has announced the signing of 24-year-old domestic striker Malcolm Shaw.

The Pickering, Ontario native is already training with the squad after having played for Swedish third division side Assyriska IK, which is where former York9 FC striker Simon Adjei returned to a few months ago. Shaw had made 24 appearances for the side last year, contributing five league goals and four assists.

Prior to that, he scored thirteen goals in one season for fourth division side Raslatts SK in 2018. He was also fairly prolific for his NCAA Division II soccer days, scoring 27 goals across four seasons for Roberts Wesleyan College.

Shaw spent the last few weeks on trial with the side prior to the move becoming official. Capable of playing as a centre-forward or a left winger, he’s now Mista’s only sole out-and-out striker that has been recruited for the club’s inaugural campaign so far.

I’m super grateful for the opportunity. I think what draws me is obviously being able to play at home in front of family, in front of loved ones. The past two years I’ve been in Europe playing, and it’s been more of a challenge for my family and even friends to be able to tune in and watch me play, follow me closely. In terms of being able to be, instead of 6,000 miles away with a six-hour time difference playing in Sweden – as amazing as it was – I’m now four hours away in the same time zone.

Malcolm Shaw

The expansion side describes him as a two-footed striker with good physicality, which will allow him to hold up play as Atletico Ottawa gets players forward. The club has some modern full-backs to help with this, having recruited the likes of England’s Vashon Neufville and domestic players like Kunle Dada-Luke, Malyk Hamilton (who can also slot into midfield), and Michel Djaozandry.

Shaw had been preparing to move to Swedish third division side Varnamo IFK for the 2020 season, but the COVID-19 pandemic nullified the move. He was then due to trial with a USL club, but that move fell apart, too. Having returned to Canada to train independently, he says the move to Atletico Ottawa came fairly out of the blue.

There’s no relation to Jamaican international Tevin Shaw, who believes Atletico Ottawa can fight for the title in the club’s debut season.

In our conversations with head coach Mista last week, the Atletico Ottawa head coach revealed that the club will likely announce a handful of other players in the near future, too. The Atletico Ottawa roster is expected to round out at about eighteen players for the modified 2020 Canadian Premier League season.

The length of financial details of Shaw’s contract with Atletico Ottawa were not disclosed by the club.

Source: Canadian Premier League