NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 7 – Former Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama has signed a new contract with Canadian Major League Soccer (MLS) side CF Montreal after months of uncertainty over his next move.
Wanyama, who had joined Montreal from Tottenham Hotspur, was a free agent after his contract with the club ended at the close of the last MLS season, and had said he was unsure of whether he would renew or not.
There were growing rumours over his next station, with some suggesting a return to his former club Celtic, but that has now been put to rest with the club announcing early Saturday morning that he had penned a new two-year contract for the 2023 and 2024 seasons. He will remain a Designated Player with the Club.
“We are glad to have concluded a new deal with Victor and that he remains with us,” said Vice-President and Chief Sporting Officer, Olivier Renard. “During the last three seasons, he has been an important player on the field and in the locker room. His personality, his experience, and his qualities as a player will notably help us with the stability of the group for the season to come.”
“I’m excited to stay at the club and the city where I have been so happy for the past three years,” said Victor Wanyama. “When I arrived here, I believed in the Club’s project. As we continue to grow, this is even more true. I am eager to continue bringing my best for my teammates, the coaching staff, and the Montreal supporters. “
Wanyama, 31, initially joined the Club on a free transfer from Tottenham Hotspur FC on March 3, 2020. In three seasons in MLS, he played 80 games, including 78 as a starter, for a total of 6,891 regular season minutes, compiling five goals and eight assists.
He also played the full 90 minutes in each of the Club’s last six Concacaf Champions League matches (twice against CD Olimpia in 2020 and four games in 2022 against Santos Laguna and Cruz Azul). Wanyama was also a finalist for the Club’s Most Valuable Player award in 2022.
