Vancouver FC Adds Four Internationals

Canadian Premier League side Vancouver FC kicks off its third season tonight against York United, with the Eagles confirming the signing of four brand new international signings today – though all remain outside of Canada whilst their work permits and visa situations are sorted.

Head coach Afshin Ghotbi has seen fairly mixed results with his international signings, and at face value the new batch of inbound talent all come with some decently-sized question marks that will only be answered when they can showcase themselves in Canada’s top flight.

The first international to arrive is French midfielder Abdoulaye Ouattara, 24, who makes the move from United Arab Emirates side Elite Falcons FC on a one-year deal that includes a club option for 2026 – though he did have several years left on contract with his prior club, suggesting mutual termination cleared a path for today’s move.

A central and defensive midfield option, the Mountreuil-born athlete is a product of the Olympique Lyonnaise youth system, having featured once for the reserve side before moving to Slovakia to play with FC Senica before returning to France with US Sarre-Union. He also had a spell with Zota FC, where he looks to have played alongside former Valour midfielder Jose Galan.

Also on deck is 18-year-old Brazilian midfielder Michel Cavalcante, who arrives on a one-year contract from the youth ranks of Brazilian side Fortaleza Esporte Clube. A defensive midfielder by trade, he’s a young addition with a shroud of mystery still around him – so fans will likely have to see how the youngster adapts to his first international club experience to form a verdict.

The club is also bringing in a Brazilian central midfielder named Juan Batista on a one-year deal with club options for both 2026 and 2027, which makes him the most long-term prospect of the bunch. The 23-year-old midfielder – who offers both defensive, central, and attacking versatility in the middle of the park – has spent the bulk of his career in Brazil, most recently with Foz do Iguacu. He’s played for several sides in his home country and sports a UAE connection from a stint with Masfout Club.

The club is also bringing in a Senegalese defender named Pathe Ndiaya, stating that the move comes as a one-year loan from CD Leganes. We were unable to confirm many details about the player himself, though an online profile shows a player who, it seems, also played in the UAE with the Elite Falcons FC at one point.

The signings will join eight other new arrivals for the club’s 2025 CPL season of which eight others are fresh faces: goalkeeper Felipe Jamarillo Drolet, defender Kunle Dada-Luke, midfielders Mehdi Essoussi, Emrick Fotsing, Henri Godbout, Dominic Joseph, and Kevin Podgorni, and forward Terran Campbell.

Vancouver FC will kick off its season in just a few hours, hosting York United at home in what will be the first test of the club’s big move to a general admission structure.

Header Image Photo Credit: John Jacques