REPORT CARD: Grading a busy and historic 2025 summer window for CanMNT transfers

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One of the most significant transfer windows in CanMNT history came to a close this week, and much like it started, it ended with a bang. 

A window that featured moves for over a dozen CanMNT-capped players, it has completely altered the complexion of this Canadian team, in a good way. Thanks to their rapid improvement and an ever-growing player pool, it pushed players to consider all of those factors when pondering moves, for better or for worse. 

Especially heading into a World Cup year, where the pressure is on for players to make the squad, that also played a big role in the motivation behind certain moves, which is important to consider. 

For what it’s worth, several players who could’ve made big moves also chose to stay put at their clubs this window, such as Promise David, Stephen Eustáquio and Alistair Johnston, showing that not everyone felt that pressure to move, either, knowing that stability isn’t the worst thing to have in a World Cup year. 

That’s key, because for as big as this window was, next summer could be even bigger, as the post-World Cup landscape could look a lot different for this Canadian team based on how the next 10 months go - especially if Canada has a big World Cup. 

Before looking too far ahead, however, this is a good time to reflect on all of the moves that were actually made this summer. To help do that, here’s a report card of each move made, giving an idea of how each player did - and what they’ll want to get out of their respective moves. 

Without further ado, here’s a look at how they fared. 

All players included have made at least one appearance for the CanMNT under Jesse Marsch. 

Jonathan David (Lille OSC →Juventus, free transfer)

After years of speculation, Jonathan David has finally made his big move, as he joined Italian giants Juventus on a free transfer following five seasons with Lille OSC. 

While Juventus have fallen a bit short of their lofty standards in recent seasons, this is a club that expects to win trophies and are a regular participant in the UEFA Champions League, sitting among the top 10-15 clubs in the world in terms of squad value. 

Could David have joined an even bigger club? Possibly, but he’ll play regularly at Juventus, while still being pushed to hit a new level. For a 25-year-old striker, it’s hard to find a better situation than that among Europe’s elite clubs - and for what it’s worth, David is young enough that another big move could still be in his future, even if he’ll have big goals to achieve in Italy first. 

Grade: A

MORE: Jonathan David to Juventus - how will the CanMNT star fit in Serie A? 

Tajon Buchanan (Inter Milan→Villarreal CF, transfer)

It’s hard to think of a bigger winner on this list, as Tajon Buchanan has found a perfect fit at Villarreal CF, joining them permanently after a successful loan stint at the end of 2024-2025. 

While Villarreal might not have the same prestige as Inter Milan, they regularly finish top eight in La Liga and are semi-regular participants in the UEFA Champions League, which is still quite massive. 

And, most importantly for Buchanan, he’ll have a regular starting role at the club, in his preferred position, as a winger. After spending most of the last few years in Europe playing as a full back and wing back, that’s no small detail, as a return to the wing has seemed to get the absolute best out of him, for club and country, after he’d looked to have lost his confidence in 2024 - just look at his recent hat trick vs. Girona as an example of what he can do now that he’s higher up the pitch once again. 

Grade: A+

MORE: Tajon Buchanan’s return to Villarreal a perfect move for CanMNT winger amid 2025 resurgence 

Tani Oluwaseyi (Minnesota United→Villarreal CF, transfer)

Villarreal loved having one Canadian so much that they decided to add another to the mix, as Tani Oluwaseyi joined the club on a transfer from Minnesota United to help bolster their forward ranks. 

No doubt, this is a huge move for Oluwaseyi, as it’s not often that Canadian players have been able to head directly to a big club in the top five leagues straight out of MLS. Yet, that speaks to how good he was with Minnesota, where he blossomed into one of the top strikers in MLS over the past few seasons. 

Now, the big risk with this move comes from the fact that this is a big jump in level, and that Oluwaseyi faces strong competition at his position. Vilarreal looks set to give him decent minutes as they deal with some departures and injuries up front, but how Oluwaseyi does in those minutes remains to be seen. 

If he hits the ground running, a starting spot for the CanMNT at the World Cup might just be his to lose, given how well he fits in under head coach Jesse Marsch - but a poor season could significantly harm his chances at minutes next summer, making this a classic high-risk, high-reward scenario, even if it leans more towards the latter at first glance. 

Grade: B+

MORE: What to expect from CanMNT forward Tani Oluwaseyi at Villarreal? 

Ismaël Koné (Olympique Marseille→U.S. Sassuolo, loan)

After a tough year with Marseille, Ismaël Koné has gotten a fresh start in Italy with Sassuolo, and there’s a lot to like with this move. 

Given that Koné is still quite young, this appears to be the stable environment he needs to keep developing, helping him reach the potential he’s shown in glimpses. That he’s looked good in his first few appearances with the club backs up that sentiment. 

There are risks attached to this move, as Sassuolo are freshly promoted from the Italian second tier, which means they’ll be in a fight to stay up, but the trade-off is that Koné has a clear path towards minutes - now, he’ll hope to find the consistency in his game that has eluded him over the past few years. He does that, and he’ll be a strong candidate to start at next summer’s World Cup, no doubt, as he’s certainly got the talent to play a big role for Canada in that tournament. 

Grade: B

MORE: Can Ismaël Koné use Sassuolo move to reignite CanMNT ambitions after Marseille struggles? 

Cyle Larin (RCD Mallorca→Feyenoord, loan)

Cyle Larin is heading to the Netherlands after spending a few years in Spain, as he joined Dutch giants Feyenoord on loan this week. 

While it’s always tough to leave a club in the top five leagues, this feels like an upgrade for Larin, too, who goes from a middling side in Spain to a team that wants to push for titles in the Netherlands - and one that will also play in the Europa League. 

Plus, more importantly, the Eredivisie appears to be a league that suits Larin’s style of play, too, which could be beneficial as he looks to re-find his confidence after a few up-and-down seasons. Along with the chance to work with the legendary Dutch striker, Robin Van Persie, who is his new head coach, Larin is ticking a lot of boxes with this move - now, he just needs to get on the pitch and get his swagger back, as he looks to regain a regular starting spot with the CanMNT. 

Grade: B+

MORE: What to expect from Larin at Feyenoord? 

Derek Cornelius (Olympique Marseille→Rangers, loan)

While he’s leaving some of the most passionate fans in Europe at Marseille, Derek Cornelius is dropping into another pressure cooker at his new club, Rangers, where he’ll now get to play in one of the best derbies in the world, the Old Firm, where matchups against CanMNT teammate and Celtic defender Alistair Johnston await him. 

Plus, after playing a bit-part role at Marseille, Cornelius looks to be an everyday starter for Rangers, too, as they push to win their first league title since 2020-2021 while also navigating Europa League action. 

Therefore, while there are questions about how this move will push him when looking at the standard of competition he’ll face regularly in the Scottish league, especially when considering that he was linked to other clubs across the top five leagues, it’s not a bad thing that he’ll play heavy minutes for a club where high standards are the norm - especially after the last year he had. 

Grade: C+

MORE: What to expect from Cornelius at Rangers? 

Nathan Saliba (CF Montréal→RSC Anderlecht, transfer)

Nathan Saliba was one of the first CanMNT players to move this summer, and he’s found a good landing spot at Anderlecht, where he appears set to play a key role in 2025-2026. 

As many CanMNT players have shown in recent years, too, the Belgian league is an excellent place to develop, which is great news for a young Canadian midfielder with a high ceiling like Saliba. Therefore, seeing that Saliba has been earning minutes right from day one at his new club is a positive sign, as he should take a big step forward with this move. 

Unfortunately, he and the club missed out on the chance to play European football after falling short in Europa League and Conference League qualifiers, but otherwise, there isn’t much to fault about this transfer, one that could set up Saliba for a bigger move down the road if he performs - and a bigger role for the CanMNT in the short-term, too. 

Grade: A-

MORE: Nathan Saliba’s summer breakout continues with transformative move to R.S.C. Anderlecht 

Luc De Fougerolles (Fulham FC→FCV Dender, loan)

There’s another young Canadian to watch in Belgium this season, as Luc De Fougerolles joined FCV Dender on loan from Fulham, allowing him to earn the regular first-team minutes that have mostly eluded him in England. So far, this move appears to be a shrewd move from De Fougerolles, too, who has quickly taken to life at his new club, even despite a few stumbling blocks. 

Yet, this move is fitting given his growth over the last year, as he’s gone from a player on the fringes of the CanMNT to a likely lock for the World Cup, and he continues to prove that every time he takes the field for club and country. 

Now, it’ll be interesting to see how long it takes him to earn a full-time role at Fulham, something that should surely be in the cards over the next few seasons, especially if he can keep shining on this loan like he has so far. 

Grade: A-

MORE: CanMNT World Cup hopeful Luc De Fougerolles takes a calculated risk with F.C.V. Dender loan 

Daniel Jebbison (AFC Bournemouth→Preston North End, loan)

The mission is simple for Daniel Jebbison this year with Preston North End - stay healthy and score goals. 

After a few trying seasons, which have featured health complications, inconsistent minutes and struggles in front of goal, he’ll feel this loan move can be just what he needs, especially given that he’s playing under a familiar head coach in Paul Heckingbottom, one who gave him his Premier League debut at Sheffield United a few years ago. 

Jebbison has had a bit of a rough start to this stint, as he suffered an injury while working with a personal trainer, but he returned to the pitch ahead of schedule and will now hope the goals are soon to follow. 

Grade: B

Mathieu Choinière (Grasshopper Zürich→LAFC, loan)

Just a year after he left CF Montréal to head to Grasshopper, Mathieu Choinière is back in MLS, as he joined LAFC, doing so thanks to the connection both clubs have (LAFC is a major owner of the Swiss club). 

Given the year he had with Grasshopper, which started well but ended on a sour note after an injury and the club’s poor performances, this LAFC move is a good one for him, too, as he joins an ambitious side hungry for trophies and armed with great players. 

At the same time, it’s a bit strange to see him back in MLS just a year after leaving his boyhood club, especially given that Grasshopper was always seen as a transition move towards something bigger, but there’s no doubt that he’s in a better situation than he was 12 months before, which is a win. 

Grade: C+

MORE: What to expect from Mathieu Choinière at new club? 

Joel Waterman (CF Montréal→Chicago Fire, trade)

This was a quiet window for CanMNT players moving within MLS, as Joel Waterman is the lone player to fit that description, as he was given a fresh start with the Chicago Fire after a lengthy stint with CF Montréal. 

Immediately, there’s a lot to like with this move, too, as Waterman joins a club that fits his style of play quite nicely and will offer him a clear path towards minutes. 

Therefore, while it’s bittersweet to see Waterman’s time with Montréal end on a bit of a low with his performances dipping slightly this year, this is a great way for him to hit the reset button as he battles to make the CanMNT’s World Cup squad. 

Grade: B-

MORE: Can Joel Waterman use trade to Chicago Fire to cement spot on World Cup squad? 

Theo Bair (AJ Auxerre→Lausanne-Sport, loan)

Yet another player to head out on loan this summer, Theo Bair is heading to Switzerland after an uneventful year in France with AJ Auxerre, who he joined from Motherwell last summer. 

Having struggled to carve out a regular role in France, he should get that opportunity at Lausanne-Sport, who are coming off a strong season, one that’s eventually pushed them to earn a berth in the UEFA Conference League for 2025-2026. 

Because of that, this feels like a good move for Bair, who will get plenty of minutes at his new club, which should hopefully allow him to find the goals and confidence that he’ll need to keep his name in the mix among a competitive striker group on this CanMNT side ahead of next summer. 

Grade: B

MORE: What to expect from Theo Bair at Lausanne-Sport? 

Jamie Knight-Lebel (Bristol City→Swindon Town, loan)

For a second straight season, Jamie Knight-Lebel is heading on loan to an EFL League 2 side from Bristol City, as he joined Swindon Town this week after spending 2024-2025 with Crewe Alexandra. 

Ultimately, given how solid he was on loan last year, one can only wonder if he would’ve benefited from a move to an EFL League One side, for example, something that could’ve pushed his development even further. 

That’s not to say he can’t continue to progress on this loan - but he’ll now need to push to become a dominant League Two player to ensure it’s a successful stint, as he looks to earn a spot in Bristol City’s ranks long-term. 

Grade: C+

MORE: What to expect from Jamie Knight-Lebel at Swindon Town 

Charles-Andreas Brym (Almere City→NAC Breda, transfer)

Quietly, Charles-Andreas Brym continues to carve out a home for himself in the Dutch top flight, as he gets set for his third full season in the Eredivisie, this time with NAC Breda. 

After spending time with Sparta Rotterdam and Almere City, he’ll want to build on his stint with Almere, in particular, where he was a regular contributor despite their eventual relegation, earning him this move to another top-flight side. 

Now, he’ll have to really catch fire to break into this CanMNT fall, as he hasn’t earned a call-up in over a year after being included in Jesse Marsch’s first camp, but if he were to find form in the Eredivisie, it’s hard to imagine him getting ignored, showing why his main focus right now will be to catch fire at his new club. 

Grade: B

Dominick Zator (Korona Kielce→Arka Gdynia, free transfer)

After a few seasons with Korona Kielce, Dominick Zator is sticking around in Poland, as the defender joined Arka Gdynia to remain in the top flight.

With over 50 appearances in the Ekstraklasa under his belt, he’ll want to re-find his form after an injury-filled 2024-2025 campaign, as he looks to show that he can still be an impact contributor at this level. 

Much like with Brym, he’s a long shot to earn his way into the CanMNT fold, but given the injuries Canada continues to deal with at the back, he’s not actually as far off as many might think, especially if he can play a regular role at his new club, showing why it’s good to see him stick around at this level (although one could wonder if a Canadian MLS team could’ve tried to poach him). 

Grade: B