FC Edmonton Exercises Options On Seven Players

Canadian Premier League club FC Edmonton has confirmed that it has exercised options on seven players for the 2020 season, with the retained selections including three internationals.

The Eddies have officially re-signed team captain Tomi Ameobi along with Ramon Soria, Son Youngchan, Kareem Moses, Marcus Velado-Tsegaye, David Doe, and Prince Amanda. All-in-all, there’s a healthy mix of veterans and up-and-coming domestic talent.

Last week the club officially confirmed that top Eddies goalscorer Easton Ongaro would be back on a multi-year deal, too.

What’s more, FC Edmonton head coach Jeff Paulus has confirmed that more player signings will be announced in the near future:

While we have had to make a few very difficult decisions, I am delighted to have a large piece of the core of this team returning, with more announcements coming shortly.

Jeff Paulus

Today’s announcement brings the club’s confirmed 2020 roster up to eight, with an equal number of players having been released two weeks ago. Goalkeeper Connor James still has yet to be announced for the club’s second season in the CPL, but with Dylon Powley having been released it’s expected that James will be staying.

The re-signing of club captain Tomi Ameobi should also come as no surprise: it’ll be his fifth year with the Alberta-based club. Having represented the Eddies no less than 120 times, the Newcastle-born striker is the all-time appearance leader for the Eddies.

The fact thatFC Edmonton just signed three international players over the age of 27 also seems to discredit a rumoured league-wide international roster age cap, too.

The club also selected two eighteen-year-old FC Edmonton Academy products in the CPL-U SPORTS Draft, indicative of the gaffer’s faith in the significant academy investment put forth by the Fath Group.

Given that both Amanda and Canada U-20 hopeful Velado-Tsegaye made their debuts in the inaugural Canadian Premier League season – with Doe having made his two years prior for the Eddies in the NASL – fans can expect a heavy focus on local talent in 2020.

FC Edmonton (or any other CPL side, for that matter) has yet to announce a brand new player signing, but today’s announcement gives fans a good look at both which core players Paulus intends to build around, and what youngsters he believes are ready to continue their professional development.

Source: Canadian Premier League