Atletico Ottawa have announced they have completed a transfer for forward Samuel Salter from HFX Wanderers for an undisclosed fee. This transfer marks the first intraleague transfer with a fee in Canadian Premier League history. The club have signed Salter to a two-year deal with an option for a further year.
Samuel Salter Will Look to Continue Goal-Scoring Form in the Nation’s Capital
Atletico Ottawa are Banking on Samuel Salter to Provide Goals as Centre-Forward
Salter is a native of Laval, Quebec and spent three years of his adolescence playing in CF Montreal’s academy. Salter spent time with Ligue 2 side Dijon FC’s U-19 side before returning to Canada. Like many current Canadian Premier League players, Salter has previous experience playing university-level soccer. He spent a season with California State University in the NCAA D1 Division.
Also an alumnus of the PLSQ, Salter spent time with both C.S St-Hubert and AS Blainville. Notably, during the 2020 PLSQ season, Salter won the league’s golden boot and helped Blainville secure their fourth PLSQ title in a row. After the impressive campaign in his home province, Salter was picked up by Canadian Premier League side HFX Wanderers inking a one-year deal with options for extension.
Samuel Salter a l’air à l’aise dans le fameux ‘Rouge et Blanc’
Samuel Salter looking sharp in red and white. #ForOttawa I #PourOttawa
: @FreestyleOttawa pic.twitter.com/trUjwIfEXu
— Atlético Ottawa (@atletiOttawa) February 16, 2023
Samuel Salter Proving his Worth at the Canadian Premier League Level
In his first season with Halifax, Salter plied his trade in the shadows of Brazilian Joao Morelli. After the latter suffered a season-ending ACL injury the following season, Samuel Salter took the spotlight upfront. Last season in the CPL, Samuel Salter recorded 11 goals in 27 matches, with six of those goals coming from penalty kicks.
In what ultimately became a disappointing season for the HFX Wanderers, Samuel Salter was a bright spot on the team. The striker started 22 out of 27 games last year for the club. He scored a memorable goal in the Canadian Championship against MLS side Toronto FC. After a very active off-season for the rebuilding Wanderers, Samuel Salter evidently did not fit the plans for Patrice Gheisar. Joao Morelli is expected to return sometime this season and it would have been likely Salter returned to a lesser role should he stay.
Atletico Ottawa’s Offense Will Look A Lot Different Next Season
Losing Ballou Tabla to Turkish side Manisa F.K and Brian Wright to York United will see Ottawa’s attack with different faces next season. The club has also added 18-year-old Jean-Aniel Assi on loan from MLS side CF Montreal.
The squad will head off to Spain shortly for a pre-season camp in Madrid before returning back to Ottawa before the beginning of the season. As of now, the club still has four international spots open for their use. It’s reasonable to assume the club would like to use one of those spots on a high-level international in the forward position.
New team manager Drew Beckie recently mentioned that the club may play a different style next season. That hints at a more attacking role for everybody which makes getting the forwards right a priority.
READ MORE: CPL and MLS: The growing relationship with Canadian MLS teams
Samuel Salter at 22 years old will be one to watch next season for Atletico Ottawa.
Photo Credit: Canadian Premier League
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