CF Montréal owner Joey Saputo announced he will initiate the process of sale for the Major League Soccer club.
“After more than three decades of commitment, we believe this is the appropriate time to begin the process of identifying new ownership for CF Montréal,” Saputo said on Monday. “This club has been a central part of our lives.”
The Saputo family first founded the Montreal Impact in 1992 before the club became the Canadian MLS team CF Montréal in 2012.
“We have dedicated significant time, energy and resources to building it, and we are proud of what CF Montréal has become. I would also like to thank the fans, whose passion and loyalty have been at the heart of this club,” Saputo said.
“We believe this is the right time to welcome a new ownership group with the resources, vision and commitment to build on the strong foundation we have established and carry forward the club’s proud legacy.”
Montréal concluded the 2026 regular season in last place of the Eastern Conference table with 26 points and just six wins in 34 games. The team fired head coach Marco Donadel in April after a slow start to the season, letting go of Montreal’s 11th manager in 14 seasons.
Saputo confirmed the team will continue to be operational until a sale is confirmed.
Saputo added he prefers the team be sold to a local buyer, but cannot control if the team relocates to another market.
“If the club doesn’t find a local buyer and I get an offer where the club needs to be relocated, then I have no choice. That is the decision I will take,” he said. “Our clear preference is to find a buyer who shares our commitment to Montréal and who will ensure the club remains in the city.”
The Saputo family has retained BMO Capital Markets as lead financial advisor and National Bank Financial as co-advisor to manage the sale process and identify potential buyers.
The club announced that day-to-day operations will continue as usual throughout the selling period.
