Toussaint To Help Morioka Restore J-League Status

We mentioned last week that Cedric Toussaint had teed up a move outside of the Canadian Premier League, with the defensive midfielder now officially landing with Japanese fourth division side Iwate Grulla Morioka.

The 23-year-old Haiti international made 106 appearances split between Pacific FC and York United before his move to Japan’s largest island, where he will don the number six for his new club.

Iwate Grulla Morioka suffered relegation from J3 League last year, with Toussaint’s arrival is a signal of ambition that Morioka can restore itself back to professional league status once again.

“I intend to do my best to return to the J-League and achieve even greater results,” said Cedric. “I’m ready to contribute defensively for the club.”

Northern Tribune has confirmed that his move to Japan comes in the form of a one-year deal.

Toussaint’s last season in the CPL saw the Drummondville, Quebec native make 23 appearances for a playoff-bound Pacific side, having also featured in both of the club’s Canadian Championship semi-final matches against the Vancouver Whitecaps.

His debut for Haiti came last spring in a friendly match against French Guiana, though head coach Sebastien Migne hasn’t called on the deep-lying midfielder for subsequent national windows.

“It’s a challenge that I welcome with open arms,” Toussaint tells Northern Tribune. “I’ll try my hardest to promote the team back into the third division and get more exposure to the Asian football market.”

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It’s fair to say his offseason must have had an unexpected twist or two for the midfielder to now touch down in the Iwate Prefecture with a club looking to bounce back from relegation from the professional J-League tiered structure.

Header Image Photo Credit: Canadian Premier League