Nov 9 (Reuters) – CF Montreal owner Joey Saputo on Monday initiated a sales process for the Major League Soccer club but said he is committed to ensuring the team stay in the Canadian city.
The move marks the end of the Saputo family’s long-time involvement in the club, who the Canadian businessman founded in 1992. Formerly known as Montreal Impact, the team joined MLS in 2012.
Frequent coaching changes and poor results have marked a difficult period for CF Montreal, who wrapped up their worst-ever season this weekend, finishing in last place in the MLS Eastern Conference with six wins, 20 losses and eight draws.
“We believe this is the appropriate time to begin the process of identifying new ownership for the CF Montreal,” Saputo said at a press conference in Montreal. “When something has been part of your life for so long, the decision to let go is done with a great deal of emotion.
“This decision is neither driven by urgency nor dictated by circumstance. It’s the result of a careful and deliberate reflection on where we stand today, and, more importantly, on the opportunities that lie ahead for the club.”
While Saputo said the preference is to find a local buyer who will ensure the club remains in Montreal, he also did not rule out relocation, saying he will not “discount the club to the point of just giving it away”.
“If someone has the capacity to do it, and I feel that they have the capacity to do it, then I would love for this club to be here and stay here and continue to build on what we did,” Saputo said.
“But if there isn’t, and there’s an offer that comes in to relocate the club and it’s in line with Major League Soccer and what they want to do, then yeah, that’s where it’s going to be.”
One of three Canadian teams in MLS, CF Montreal ranked last in Forbes’ 2026 MLS team valuations at an estimated $440 million.
In a press release, the team said the priority is to provide “the right Quebec-based investors with an opportunity to come forward, with the resources and commitment to support the club’s long-term success.”
(Reporting by Nicole Fernandes in Toronto)
