Montreal Impact promote four young midfielders from academy to first team

MONTREAL – Four products of the Montreal Impact’s academy system have been promoted to the club’s top team.

The Impact announced Friday that midfielders Jean-Aniel Assi, Sean Rea, Nathan-Dylan Saliba, and Rida Zouhir have all signed contracts that will see them join the Major League Soccer squad immediately.

Academy director Patrick Leduc says in a release that Assi, a 16-year-old originally from the Ivory Coast, is a fast winger with impressive athletic qualities and a good shot.

He describes Rea as creative and an attacking spark, saying the 18-year-old Montrealer has the ability to make the last pass and dribble.

The coach says 16-year-old Saliba, from Longueuil, Que., is a complete player who can play any position in the midfield and adapt to any situation.

Leduc says Zouhir, a 17-year-old from Montreal, is good with both feet, and has the character and personality to make his mark on the field.

The fresh faces will be available to play when Montreal faces Honduran club CD Olimpia in CONCACAF Champions League action on Dec. 15.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 4, 2020.