5 Canadians at new clubs to watch in MLS in 2024
After an eventful offseason, for all sorts of reasons, MLS is finally back this week.
Starting with a midweek clash between Inter Miami and Real Salt Lake earlier in the week, and then continuing with a full slate on the weekend, there will be no shortage of action to keep an eye on as the 29 MLS clubs mark their long-awaited return to action, either.
From a Canadian perspective, there will be a lot to keep tabs on, too, from the performances of the three Canadian clubs in the Vancouver Whitecaps, Toronto FC and CF Montréal, to a strong contingent of Canadian players who could shine in the league this season.
Especially after a key offseason of movement on the Canadian front, as some new faces made their way into the league, while a few others found themselves on the move within it, it’ll be intriguing to see how they get on this year.
Last year, a couple of Canadians did pretty well for themselves, as Mo Farsi and Jacen Russell-Rowe won MLS Cup under the tutelage of head coach Wilfried Nancy at the Columbus Crew, something that Canadian fans will hope can be replicated, either with the Crew or one of the several other teams that play host to Canadian players.
And the #Crew96 have won 2023 MLS Cup!!
— Alexandre Gangué-Ruzic (@AlexGangueRuzic) December 9, 2023
Huge for 🇨🇦's Wilfried Nancy, Mo Farsi and Jacen Russell-Rowe
Big shout for Nancy - in his 3rd season coaching in MLS, and 1st with the Crew, he leads them to a top 3 MLS finish and now an MLS Cup
Would love to have him coach the #CanMNT
Speaking of those Canadians, however, it’s important to dive into some who have found a new home this offseason, as several of them could be set to play key roles for their clubs.
From established regulars who have tested their luck in a new environment, to youngsters looking to find their feet as professionals, and everything in between, there’s a wide range of names to keep an eye on, too.
With that in mind, however, here’s a closer look at five of those Canadians at new clubs worth keeping an eye on in 2024.
Maxime Crépeau (Portland Timbers):
To begin, there’s no better place to start than one of the biggest moves of the offseason, as Maxime Crépeau surprised many when he chose to sign with the Portland Timbers as a free agent following two successful seasons with LAFC in 2022 and 2023.
📰 | We've signed free agent goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau through the 2025 season with a club option for 2026. @Shift4 x #RCTID
— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) January 17, 2024
One of the best goalkeepers in MLS over the last five years, he broke out as a member of the Vancouver Whitecaps in 2019, before hitting another level when he joined LA in 2022, helping them win a Supporters Shield and MLS Cup that same year, and helped them to another MLS Cup final last year, where they fell short to the Crew in the final.
Because of that, he was expected to be a valued commodity when he became a free agent this past offseason, especially when it came out that he wouldn’t be retained by LA, who chose to bring in Hugo Lloris as a replacement.
But while many expected him to either test his hand in Europe or join a contending MLS side like Atlanta United, who signed American Josh Cohen to fill that role in December, Crépeau elected to give a rebuilding Timbers side a shot, much to the surprise of many.
Having missed the playoffs last year, Portland has done a lot of work to try and change that this year, however, signing a new head coach in Phil Neville, fresh off a stint as a Canadian Men’s National Team assistant coach, before making some key acquisitions across the field.
And none may prove to be as key as Crépeau’s, who found himself enticed by Neville’s project and his CanMNT stint, filling one of Portland’s key needs from last year.
Because of that, it’ll be interesting to see if he can help turn around this Portland side. Given that he’s on the cusp of getting a shot at the #1 job for the CanMNT, something he likely would’ve already gotten had he not fractured his leg at the end of 2022, a strong campaign with Portland will only increase the odds of him winning that spot in 2024.
As a result, look for him to come out motivated in Portland, as he looks to prove that he made the right choice by returning to the Pacific Northwest.
Kamal Miller (Portland Timbers):
Crépeau isn’t the only Canadian to keep an eye on in Portland this year, however, as Neville made sure to make the most of his newfound Canadian connections in his offseason moves.
📰 | We've acquired Canadian defender @KMillz_00 from Inter Miami CF in exchange for $625,000 in GAM and an international roster spot.#RCTID
— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) January 4, 2024
As a result, he also traded with Inter Miami for fellow CanMNT regular Kamal Miller, who along with free agent signing James Pantemis and returnee Zac McGraw, now gives the Timbers an impressive four Canadians on their roster along with Crépeau.
And in Miller, they’ve gotten themselves quite the Canadian piece, too, as he’s been one of the best centre backs in MLS over the last few years, establishing himself as a top player at that position with CF Montréal and then Inter Miami after breaking into MLS as a left back with Orlando City.
Through that, he’s become a CanMNT regular, as well, amassing 41 caps, including three at the 2022 World Cup, as his contributions didn’t go unnoticed.
Now, however, while there’s no doubt that Miller can be a standout defender in this league, this will be a big challenge for him, as he’ll now be expected to be a leader in this backline.
One of the best passers in the league, he’ll be leaned on to help the Timbers build up play, while also looking to bring his 1v1 defending to the table, which should complement nicely with McGraw, who is more of an aerial threat and no-nonsense defender.
With that partnership and the presence of Crépeau behind them, it’s felt that the Timbers could take a huge step forward defensively, which will only raise Miller’s already high stock within MLS.
Because of that, this could be a big opportunity for him, as he could vault himself from a breakout star to one of the top-tier players at his position in the league, which will only help his standing with the CanMNT, where he remains a key starter heading into 2024. 
Zorhan Bassong (Sporting KC):
After a mixed first stint in MLS, Zorhan Bassong has returned to the league this offseason, as he signed for Sporting Kansas City in December.
Sporting Kansas City signs 24-year-old left back Zorhan Bassong.
— Sporting Kansas City (@SportingKC) December 12, 2023
Details 📰 https://t.co/ItQdKnYDye#SportingKC ✘ @Shift4 pic.twitter.com/voAigyyxh1
Having spent two seasons with CF Montréal in 2021 and 2022, playing 43 games in all competitions for the club, he took his talents to Romania in 2023, spending the end of the 22/23 with Arges before swapping to join FCV Farul to begin 23/24.
Unfortunately for him, however, after a good stint at Arges, where he made 10 appearances, he saw the field just twice for Farul, before having his contract terminated.
But now, having joined Kansas, he’ll get a fresh start there, as he joins an exciting side that looks poised to make a good playoff push this year under veteran head coach Peter Vermes, especially after they made a surprise run to the Conference semi-finals last year.
Having featured regularly in their preseason, he should get a good run as a starter at left back under Vermes, too, which is a position where Canada needs more depth, making him someone to monitor.
So far sitting with just two Canadian caps to his name, he’ll want to change that in 2024, which he’ll only be able to do if he has a strong MLS season. Because of that, look for him to come out of the gates strongly, as he looks to make the most of this opportunity.
Raheem Edwards (CF Montréal):
One can be excused if they didn’t remember Raheem Edwards’s first stint in Montréal too well, as he played just 14 games for the Impact (as they were known at the time) in 2018 before being traded to the Chicago Fire.
Le CF Montréal fait l'acquisition du défenseur Raheem Edwards en provenance du LA Galaxy. Plus d'informations ➡️ https://t.co/7yy72Zsbx1
— CF Montréal (@cfmontreal) December 11, 2023
CF Montréal acquires defender Raheem Edwards from LA Galaxy. More info ➡️ https://t.co/3DAvIvhcvs#CFMTL pic.twitter.com/sXJ3QndYuW
Yet to establish himself as an MLS regular, however, it wasn’t seen as a big loss at the time, but that started to change over the years, as Edwards eventually blossomed into a solid MLS piece with LAFC in 2021 after mixed showings with the Chicago Fire and Minnesota United.
Then, he had his big breakout in 2022, when he signed for the LA Galaxy under old head coach Greg Vanney, with whom he won an MLS Cup and a Supporters Shield at Toronto FC, and his stock quickly raised in MLS as he became a very good left back with the Galaxy, after spending most of his career as a winger.
Playing 71 games across two seasons for the Galaxy, scoring three goals and adding eight assists, he proved that he can be a ball-progression force from deeper positions, both through his dribbling and passing, playing a big role in their system.
As a result, he was at the top of the list when CF Montréal decided that they needed a new left back heading into 2024, which is why they chose to trade $400 000 in GAM to acquire his services.
And heading into his second stint with Montréal, he promises to be a key acquisition for them, as he’s a perfect fit for their system. Expected to play with a back three, Edwards should thrive as a left wing back under new head coach Laurent Courtois, who will want his wide players to be very aggressive on the ball.
Given Edwards shone as a deeper-lying left back with the Galaxy, he’ll enjoy the freedom that being a wing back provides, too, which is exciting to imagine given his ability to make things happen in the final third.
Because of that, he could throw himself back into the CanMNT conversation if he can find his feet in this new system, as he looks to add to the five caps he’s so far won for his country, something that a strong season with Montréal could help him do. 
Richie Laryea (Toronto FC)
For the third time in his career, Richie Laryea is heading home, as he re-joined hometown team Toronto FC from Nottingham Forest for a $750 000 fee this week.
Guess who's home? ♥️@RichieLaryea_ | #TFCLive
— Toronto FC (@TorontoFC) February 23, 2024
This time, however, this feels like Laryea’s there to stay, as he returns to Toronto on a permanent deal after his last stint was there on loan from Forest from the summer of 2022 until the summer of 2023, which left him in limbo when that deal ended.
As a result, he then went to the Vancouver Whitecaps for half a season on loan, where he showed well before returning to Forest, where TFC eventually decided to make him one of their marquee signings of this offseason this past week.
And that’s huge news for Laryea, who will be expected to thrive under TFC’s new head coach, John Herdman, who Laryea is quite familiar with from his time with the CanMNT, where Herdman coached from 2018 to 2023.
Given that Herdman was the one that gave Laryea his CanMNT debut during his first stint with TFC, where he was amid a breakout 2019 season that saw him become one of the best full backs in MLS, both parties will be pleased to be working together again.
Because of that, this could be a big year for Laryea.
Still a key piece on the CanMNT, he’ll be pleased that he finally has his club situation sorted out, after a rocky last two years saw him depart Toronto FC to Forest for a fee, return to TFC on loan after featuring sporadically in Forest’s promotion to the Premier League, before his short Whitecaps stint capped things off. Given that he hasn’t played a full season at a club since 2021, that has to have left a toll on him, so he’ll be pleased to have that stability heading into 2024.
As a result, he’ll now have a chance to once again prove why he’s been one of the best full backs in MLS over the last five years, something that Herdman’s system should certainly allow him to do, given that he’ll slot right in as a wing back in TFC’s new-look 3-4-2-1.
From there, he’ll look to continue to earn minutes with the CanMNT, where he’s been one of their most consistent performers over the last few years, as he looks to help them through a crucial year, which starts with their must-win Copa América qualifier with Trinidad & Tobago next month.
And no better way to enter that camp than coming off of a hot start with TFC, which he’ll now look to do as he tries and re-find his feet back in familiar confines, with the sense that he’ll now be able to get settled there long-term.
