Atletico Ottawa Snaps Up CF Montreal Prospect Tim Arnauld

The reigning Canadian Premier League champions are recruiting from the Major League Soccer pipeline yet again.

Atletico Ottawa has made a big show of faith in 18-year-old French-Canadian midfielder Tim Arnauld, signing the youngster to a three-year guaranteed contract through to 2028 with a club option for a further year.

The CF Montreal Academy product has yet to make his entrance at the senior level, but has turned heads with the CF Montreal U-18 squad. Evidently, Atletico Ottawa – who brought in FC2 Midfielder Marko Stojadinovic last month – likes what it has seen from the youngster so far.

“Tim is a player that we are really excited about and someone who we feel can be an important piece of our system in the coming years,” says Atletico Ottawa General Manager JD Ulanowski, who saw great success in the signings of CF Montreal Academy prospects Sergei Kozlovskiy and Joaquim Coulanges last season.

Having seen that duo blossom, Ulanowski is making a big bet that Tim Arnauld will follow a similarly bountiful trajectory in his development.

Arnald will arrive to TD Place as a dual-footed midfielder who offers returning head coach Diego Mejia options as both a holding midfield, a box-to-box number eight, and someone who can perhaps be deployed on either flank. In a salary-cap league like the CPL, such versatility comes with great value.

“I’m very excited to join the defending Canadian Premier League Champions, Atletico Ottawa,” says Arnaud. “Atletico is one of the best teams in Canada, with an exciting style of play, a passionate fanbase, and a track record of providing opportunities to young players who have earned their chance. I know we can accomplish great things this season, and I can’t wait to take to the pitch at TD Place.”

Atletico Ottawa currently has sixteen players on the books but has some big shoes to fill after the end of David Rodriguez’s fruitful loan spell, and star goalkeeper Nathan Ingham signing for runners-up Cavalry FC.

The capital city club is currently preparing to make its continental debut. A Concacaf Champions Cup match against MLS side Nashville SC beckons, though the team’s home match will take place in Hamilton due to stadium renovations at TD Place.

Header Image Photo Courtesy: CF Montreal