Impact slated to sign defender Zakaria Diallo
French soccer club Stade Brestois has announced that it terminated the contract of Zakaria Diallo so the central defender can sign with the Montreal Impact. The Impact have not confirmed the report.
“We terminated the contract we had with Zakaria Diallo that ran to June 2018, so that he can join the Montreal Impact,” Brest sporting director Gregory Lorenzi told the club’s website.
The French sports newspaper L’Equipe reported this week that Diallo received a two-year contract offer from Montreal.
Diallo, 31, played 37 matches over the last season-and-a-half for the Ligue 2 club, but got into only two games this season.
The French-born Senegalese player previously played in Ajaccio, Dijon and Beauvais and in Belgium for Charleroi.
The Impact are thin in the central defence since trading veteran Laurent Ciman to Los Angeles FC in return for defender Jukka Raitala and midfielder Raheem Edwards.
On Thursday, the Impact said they have come to terms on a two-year deal, with an option for 2020, with Canadian international right-back Michael Petrasso.
“Michael joining the roster is positive because he is a young Canadian international,” said Impact head coach Rémi Garde.
“His qualities allow him to play in different positions and therefore offer many options for the team.”
Petrasso, 22, was part of English club Queens Park Rangers F.C. for the last six years, appearing in 11 games in the Championship, England’s second division, in one FA Cup game and one EFL Cup game.
Following a spell of loans, he also recorded five goals and two assists in 29 League One games, England’s third division, and played a total of 1,903 minutes for Oldham Athletic, Coventry City, Leyton Orient and Notts County. He also took part in five FA Cup games, one EFL Cup game and three EFL Trophy games.
The Impact also waived defenders Wandrille Lefèvre and Deian Boldor. Lefèvre, a native of France who has Canadian citizenship, won Canadian championships with the Impact in 2013 and 2014. Boldor joined the club late last season on loan from Bologna FC and played five games. The Impact had previously announced that the two players would not be kept on for 2018.
The Impact could be the most prominent Canadian team at the MLS SuperDraft, with the fourth and seventh overall picks, on Friday in Philadelphia.
Expansion side Los Angeles FC has the first overall pick, while the Los Angeles Galaxy pick second and D.C. United third.