Star York United Attackers Forging New Future?

It hasn’t taken long for Forge’s commencement of preseason training to turn heads.

Nestled within a split second of training footage were the faces of York United’s Molham Babouli and Brian Wright, two athletes who were key performers for the Nine Stripes in 2024 but look to enter 2025 draped in orange.

Both players had their contracts with York United expire following the 2024 CPL season, with club ownership admitting most of the roster from last year would be moving on.

However, seeing both athletes seemingly cross derby lines to rival side Forge FC will be sure to sting the United faithful.

Brian Wright in particular had an exemplary year that was many levels above his previous season at York Lions Stadium, tallying nine goals and six assists in a campaign that saw him land the Players’ Player of the Year award.

Wright had previously spent two seasons with Atletico Ottawa, and at 29 is entering a prime stage of his career as a striker. Consistency, however, will remain a big question for the striker’s future.

Mo Babouli, who once played for Toronto FC, had also played for Forge in the past. The Syrian international has domestic status in the league and had made 43 appearances for Forge, contributing twelve goals and winning a North Star Shield in 2020.

The 31-year-old would later sign with York United on a two-and-half year deal back in August 2022, getting many more minutes and making some 25 goal contributions over that time, where he played all around the pitch and proved to be a perhaps best as a creative, free-roaming number ten.

Babouli wasn’t the first Forge player to cross derby lines to join York United, but he’d be the first to reverse the move by returning to Hamilton.

Both players did not feature in York United’s prime match from 2023 which feature rainbow-trimmed kits, something a collective of Nine Stripes athletes opted not to wear.

Forge FC did not reply to our request for comment by press time.

Meanwhile, York United hasn’t made much of its roster known as we head into 2025, though Forge has activated numerous options and has been linked with Costa Rican international Keysher Fuller.

Header Image Photo Collage Credit: John Jacques