Impact to change name to Montreal FC: report

According to a report by Radio-canada on Tuesday, the Montreal Impact will be changing its name to Montreal FC for the 2021 Major League Soccer season.

The Montreal Impact name has been attached to the club since 1993. The team played under the Montreal FC banner when it was in the USL in 2015 and '16.

Also on Tuesday, the reshaping of the Impact continued when the club announced the signing of Canadian defender Zorhan Bassong to a two-year contract that includes an option for an additional two seasons.

His acquisition will be confirmed upon receipt of his international transfer and once he undergoes a medical exam.

The 21-year-old fullback was born in Toronto, but raised in Montreal. From age five, he played his minor soccer in Longueuil before making the jump to Europe, where he played in Belgium and France.

He made his international debut for Canada last January, in a game against Barbados. One month later, he also was named to the provisional roster of the under-23 national squad for its CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament.

Impact sporting director Olivier Renard said the club has had an agreement for some time with the 5-foot-9 Bassong, but held off in fear of upsetting other players in his position. Renard said he's impressed with the prospect's versatility, since he can play left- or right-back, or even centre-back in a three-man back line.

“He's shown a great desire to come back here and he's delighted with the club's project,” Renard said.

Meanwhile, it has finally been confirmed the Impact will play its return leg of its Champions League quarter-final against CD Olimpia on Dec. 15 at 8 p.m. in Orlando, Fla. Montreal trails the two-game, aggregate-goal series 2-1, having lost the opener at Olympic Stadium on March 10.