FC Edmonton Signs MLS Veteran Tony Tchani

Eddies boss Jeff Paulus had hinted that a big signing was coming, and he delivered: the club has just announced the signing of 30-year-old MLS veteran Tony Tchani.

The veteran midfielder has accumulated over 200 appearances in Major League Soccer across clubs like the New York Red Bulls and the Columbus Crew, with brief stints in Canada occuring via Toronto FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Suffice to say, the new FC Edmonton signing has more MLS experience than any other player in the league – he’s a big signing, and not just because he stands six-foot-four.

Tchani, who has appeared for Cameroon twice after appearing in a friendly for the United States, has been without a club since he was waived by the Chicago Fire last August. The Canadian Premier League will give him a great opportunity to prove he still has what it takes to ply his trade at the professional level.

I am excited because I think this is a great opportunity for me. I am eager to get back on the field, start playing and help the team to continue to win. I want to do my best here and do whatever that the coach asks me to do.

Tony Tchani

The club secured the transfer on deadline day, leaving head coach Jeff Paulus pleased to have wrapped up the massive signing:

Tony is a player that will bring us incredible experience down the stretch. The fact that he has 200 plus games in the MLS also brings value in that he is already accustomed to our turf and travel. He will be expected to add a veteran presence to our roster and has the ability to dominate midfield and keep us in possession of the ball.

Jeff Paulus

The move means that FC Edmonton now has a full 23-man roster, with Tchani representing the club’s only foray into the fall season transfer window – though it’s clear that they made it count.

In a league with a lot of parity, FC Edmonton has seen a lackluster spring season give way to a far more competitive fall season after a secret analyst helped the club rediscover its goalscoring roots. With Tchani now adding a veteran presence in midfield ahead of some sizable defenders, the club will be hoping that a push for the fall season title is on the cards.

Tchani’s transfer to FC Edmonton is still pending his International Transfer Certificate and a medical. Contract length and financial details were not disclosed by the club.

Source: FC Edmonton