CPL Original Diego Gutierrez Signs With Phnom Penh Crown FC

Having left Cavalry following a period of negotiation when his contract expired, Canadian midfielder Diego Gutierrez has signed with Cambodian side Phnom Penh Crown FC.

The 28-year-old has played abroad before, starting his career with Chile’s Palestino and spending a season with Primera B side Barnechea.

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Gutierrez was part of the inaugural Valour squad and spent four seasons with the side split down the middle with his Barnecha spell. The midfielder racked up 82 appearances for Winnipeg, tallying four goal and three assists, donning the captain’s armband a few times before making the move to Cavalry.

In Alberta, Gutierrez notched just shy of fifty appearances over the last two seasons and was a regular feature under head coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr.

Guterriez had featured in both of Cavalry’s CPL Finals, hoisting the North Star Shield following a successful playoff championship with Cavalry in ’25.

The move pairs him with former Valour FC attacker Moses Dyer, who has landed brightly with the side after Phnom Penh Crown met a $97,000 buyout to bring him in from Irish top flight side Galway United, where he scored roughly one goal per two games.

Up until last year, former Cavalry striker Marcus Haber had spent the last few seasons in Cambodia – notably registering 56 goals in 56 appearances for PKR Svay Rieng – though Haber now plies his trade in Thailand.

Cavalry has undergone plenty of roster movement following their loss in the snow-laden 2025 CPL Final, with many key players like club captain Marco Carducci, Fraser Aird, and Ali Musse, all departing, amongst others.

With ten players having left, the club has brought back in half that number, shoring up the backline with Nathan Ingham and Amer Didic for Atletico Ottawa, Harry Paton from Forge, and MLS Next Pro prospects Nathaniel Edwards and Curtis Ofori.

Header Image Photo Credit: John Jacques