CF Montreal owner Joey Saputo announced the initiation of the sale process for the Major League Soccer club after more than three decades of family ownership. The Saputo family founded the Montreal Impact in 1992, rebranding to CF Montreal in 2012. Saputo stated the decision aims to welcome a new ownership group with the resources and vision to build on the club's strong foundation and carry forward its proud legacy.
The announcement comes after a challenging 2026 season where Montreal concluded in last place in the Eastern Conference with only six wins in 34 games. The team recently fired head coach Marco Donadel in April following a slow start, marking the departure of the club's 11th manager in 14 seasons. Saputo confirmed the team will remain operational until a sale is confirmed, expressing a strong preference for a local buyer to ensure the club remains in the city.
If a local buyer cannot be found and a relocation offer is received, Saputo indicated he would have no choice but to consider moving the franchise. The Saputo family has retained BMO Capital Markets as lead financial advisor and National Bank Financial as co-advisor to manage the sale process and identify potential buyers. Day-to-day operations will continue as usual throughout the selling period.
Source: ESPN Soccer · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing