CF Montréal Sign Chilean Great Alexis Sánchez as Designated Player

CF Montréal have made one of the biggest signings in club history, officially confirming the arrival of Chilean legend Alexis Sánchez as a Designated Player.

The 37-year-old free agent has agreed a deal through the 2027 MLS Sprint Season, with a club option for the 2027-28 campaign. He becomes Montréal’s first Designated Player of the current era and will wear the No. 10 shirt.

Sánchez arrives after a season at Sevilla in La Liga, where he contributed four goals and two assists in around 30 appearances across all competitions. Before that, he built a glittering career at some of Europe’s biggest clubs: Barcelona, Arsenal, Manchester United, Inter Milan and Marseille.

A true Chilean great

With Chile, Sánchez is both the all-time leading scorer (51 goals) and the most-capped player in national team history (168 appearances). He was a key figure in the side that won back-to-back Copa América titles in 2015 and 2016.

Club managing director Luca Saputo called the signing “an important step in our sporting project,” praising Sánchez’s technical quality, leadership and competitive mentality.

“I am very happy to join CF Montréal and take on this new challenge,” Sánchez said. “I’m grateful to the Club for the confidence they’ve shown in me and I’m eager to put my experience to work so that we can reach our objectives and create memorable moments for our supporters. I’m here to give everything I have for the Club and for this city.”

Why it matters for Montréal

Montréal have struggled for goals this season and sit near the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Adding a player of Sánchez’s pedigree is a clear statement of ambition and a boost for a fanbase that has previously watched stars like Didier Drogba and Ignacio Piatti wear the colours.

At 37, Sánchez is no longer the explosive forward who terrorised defences a decade ago. But his vision, link-up play and experience at the highest level should give Montréal a different dimension in attack — and a leader in the dressing room.

The Chilean becomes the latest high-profile European veteran to choose MLS, following a summer that has already seen major names arrive across the league.

For CF Montréal, this is more than just another signing. It is a statement.