Canadian Premier League, Pacific FC, Vancouver FC

One Foreign Transfer Target for Every CPL Team

A couple of weeks ago I wrote an article examining the CPL foreign signings. One of the trends I noticed is that the most successful markets were places where there was a dissonance between the number of professional quality players and the number of professional opportunities. So, following that logic, this article looks at one potential transfer target for each CPL team. This is mostly going to be looking at players that I am already familiar with, so the players are all from either Australasia or the Caribbean. I didn’t mention the Caribbean that much in my original article. There have only been a couple of signings directly from the region and their success has been mixed. Plus, there is no data on those leagues so they didn’t really fit into the CPL’s previous recruitment strategy. But the Caribbean has been a consistent pipeline of talent for more established CONCACAF leagues like USL or the Costa Rican league and although some of the leagues are technically professional, players generally leave on free transfers and CPL would be a clear step up. So it makes sense, I think, to take a few more swings in the region. I’ve tried to tailor each suggestion to each team’s needs while also providing an array of profiles. I have covered most, but not all, of these players for Target Scouting, the other outlet I regularly contribute to. If I have covered them I have linked my report for a more in-depth analysis of the player. 

Pacific FC | Christopher Ainsworth/18/LB/Cavalier F.C (Jamaica)

Pacific FC has two big problems. 1. They don’t score enough goals, having scored the fewest in the league at the time of writing. 2. They don’t have a left-footed fullback. So I have tried to help both of these problems with an attacking left-footed fullback. Christopher Ainsworth is an 18-year-old fullback/wing-back who already has 74 senior appearances under his belt in the Jamaican league. He’s a strong passer with a great left foot. He’s generally strong positionally and has good recovery speed. He needs to work a bit on his decision-making in the final 3rd and would probably need to spend some time in the gym. But he’s very good (and experienced) for his age so there’s the potential to develop and sell him on and he could probably have at least a decent impact in CPL right now. You can read more of my thoughts on him (and other standout players from last year’s Caribbean championship) here.

Vancouver FC | Ciaran Bramwell/22/ST/Melbourne Knights (Australia)

Vancouver FC has a big problem on the horizon and that’s that Alejandro Diaz’s loan is almost up*. In the event that they can’t keep him they will need a striker who can be the focal point of their attack. My suggestion is Ciaran Bramwell. Bramwell has a similar career story to a number of other CPL successes. He began his career in the Australian A-League but could not get regular minutes and dropped down to the state leagues (semi-pro leagues that are sort of analogous to League 1 Canada) where he has torn things up. His goal-scoring record in Australia is very similar to Jordan Swibel, who has been a smashing success for Valour (almost to the decimal point with both averaging 0.71 G+A/90 in their most recent NPL season). Stylistically Bramwell is very similar to Diaz. He’s not the biggest but he’s quite good in the air, good at linking play, reasonably quick, and a shot locations god. At 22 he’s young enough that if he comes in and pops off, a definite possibility based on that favourable Swibel comparison, you could see some sell-on value as well. 

*Since I wrote this they have extended Diaz’s loan. But that’s just kicking the can down the road!

Cavalry FC | Justin Dunn/20/AM/Tivoli Gardens (Jamaica)

Cavalry’s has a problem. They have 1 player who has scored more than 1 goal (Tobias Warschewski). So what they need is somebody who can play in their front three and give them some offensive production. Therefore, my suggestion for them is Justin Dunn. Dunn was the leading scorer in the Jamaican Premier League regular season usually lining up in a #10 role. Dunn has great physicals, being strong and quick, but also has some good vision and passing ability. His first touch is not the best but I think he has enough plus skills to be well worth a gamble for a CPL team. His roaming attacking role in Jamaica would make him a good fit for one of those wide attacking midfielder positions in Cavalry’s 3-4-3. He’s 20 so lots of sell-on potential if he’s successful.

Valour FC | Denzil Smith/24/GK/Club Sando (Trinidad and Tobago) 

It’s sort of hard to know where to start with Valour as they both concede far too many goals and score too few. But I have chosen to focus on preventing goals as I think they have at least some interesting pieces in attack. I have not been very convinced by their goalkeeping so I have taken the bold move of suggesting an international goalkeeper. Denzil Smith is the first-choice goalkeeper for Trinidad and Tobago and has been an xG beater in CONCACAF competitions, but he still plays club football in Trinidad and Tobago. I think Smith is one of the best value signings out there for what you might call entry-level professional soccer leagues like CPL. At 24 you’re not that likely to see sell-on value but I am pretty confident he would prevent goals in CPL. 

Forge FC | Oscar Faulds/22/ST/ Napier City (New Zealand) 

Forge has had to turn to Kwasi Poku, a natural left-back as their striker due to injuries (I assume that’s why Terran Campbell and Jordan Hamilton have not played). Poku has scored a lot of goals but the data (and the eye test too, if I’m honest) indicates that output is a flash in the pan. They need someone who can stretch the field like Poku does but who can be a more consistent high-danger chance producer. My choice is Oscar Faulds a Swedish-New Zealander who is averaging a goal every 58 minutes this season. Now, new Zealand is an extremely soft league defensively and gaudy goal totals are extremely common. But a goal every 58 minutes is outrageous; it’s about on par with players from New Zealand who have not only made the jump to the professional level but also actually been good. Faulds is a tall striker whose main focus is making runs in behind the opposing defence, sort of reminiscent of Easton Ongaro (though not quite that tall). Like Bramwell, he’s young enough that there could be some sell on potential if he comes in and tears it up (which he absolutely could, especially on a strong team like Forge). 

York United | Jamoi Topey/24/CB/ Mount Pleasant (Jamaica)

York United have had no trouble scoring goals this season but they have been a bit leaky, conceding the 3rd most goals so far this season. One thing they lack a bit is some physicality in their defence. So my suggestion is 6’5 centre-back Jamoi Topey. Topey has been capped 8 times by Jamaica but still plays football domestically. He had one spell abroad, playing one season for Philadelphia Union’s (then USL) reserve team in 2019. He was *fine* (American Soccer Analysis’ G+ model has him as a moderately below-average starter). But then Covid-19 happened and things never really got going again for him. But I think CPL could be a good second chance for him. He’s good at all the things you would expect a 6’5 centre-back to be good at and his technical ability is good enough that it wouldn’t be a liability at the CPL level. Not much sell-on potential for a 24-year-old but I think he could make an impact and would be a lot of fun. 

Atletico Ottawa | Tiquanny Williams/22/W/Old Road Jets (St Kitts and Nevis)

What do you get for the team that has everything? Atletico Ottawa have only lost one game and seem to be running away with the league. But, if I had to make a criticism of the juggernaut it would be that they could do with another reliable wide player. Often they start an attacking fullback in one of their wing positions in the 4-4-2. So, I have pushed the boat out a little bit and suggested Tiquanny Williams, a 22-year-old winger who plays his football in St. Kitts and Nevis. I sense you are not blown away by this description. But when playing for the St. Kitts and Nevis national team, Williams has been prolific. He has 8 goal contributions in 16 appearances which, for a nation with less than 50,000 citizens, really is pretty good. Williams is a tricky winger who generates good shots and puts in a strong defensive shift. He’s very one-footed which limits him a bit but I am confident in his ability to play at a higher level. You can read more about him here.

HFX Wanderers | Dimitrio Andro/20/AM/Robinhood (Suriname)

The Wanderers are bottom of the league and the reason A1 for that is that they don’t score very many goals. When you look at their roster this is perhaps not a big surprise. Ryan Telfer and Massimo Ferrin are good but sub-elite CPL players. Tiago Coimbra is a good prospect but very raw. Clement Bahiya is a 25-year-old winger with less than 10 goal contributions in his professional career. There are some other bits and pieces as well but they really need a shot in the arm. So my recommendation is a personal favourite, Surinamese attacking midfielder Dimitrio Andro. Andro was a key part of the Robinhood squad that qualified for CONCACAF Champions League despite being (on paper) an amateur team. Andro is a shadow striker who links play and has a propensity for popping up in the box. I have been watching him since 2022 and he is a shot-generating machine. I’m kind of surprised nobody in MLS has picked him up on a Next Pro deal yet (maybe because not very many of those shots have gone in but that’s a minor detail as far as I’m concerned) but if they’re not going to pick him up then CPL teams, especially ones that need to generate more offence, should be all over him. You can read more of my thoughts on him (and other standout players from last year’s Caribbean championship) here.

2 thoughts on “One Foreign Transfer Target for Every CPL Team”

  1. Hey! It’s great that you are writing this kind of article and looking for some hidden gems – the effort is much appreciated. Minor point, but I think Oscar Faulds currently plays for Napier City Rovers rather than Miramar Rangers. Also, while I think it is fair to question the overall standard of NZ domestic football (aside from the A-League franchises), and there were a couple of lopsided results last round, I’m not sure its would be considered a striker’s paradise per se. There are some decent central defenders in the competition, a few of which have been recruited to (or come from) stronger overseas leagues. For example, several current A-league CD’s cut their teeth in the Central League (notably Brian Kaltak, who bossed it last year for the A-League champs Central Coast). Only my opinion, but I would put the A-league slightly below MLS and just above CPL, so there may also be an opportunity for CPL teams to recruit fringe A-League players. Thanks again, keep up the good work!

    Reply

    1. You’re totally right, Re: Faulds. Total brain fart on my part, fixed it now. Regarding the quality of the New Zealand league, you’re right that it’s not a very high level. It has extremely inflated scoring thanks to stacked teams, which are close to professional level having to play a regional round first against teams that are true amateurs. But that said, Myer Bevan and Ollie Bassett both played in the league which leads me to conclude that if you are dominating domestic football in New Zealand you can be at least an above average CPL player. I think when you compare Fauld’s output to previous success stories (Bevan, Krishna, Waine, etc.) he looks very favourable. Apparently on trial with Wellington Phoenix at the moment so I guess we’ll see.

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