Joel Waterman has been sold to the Montreal Impact, BTSVancity has learned.

The 6’2” centre back is close to reaching an agreement with the MLS-side, multiple sources have indicated to BTS, which would mark another landmark move for the Canadian Premier League.

Waterman was drafted by Cavalry in last year’s USports Draft out of Trinity Western University, and quickly became a foundation of their inaugural team, playing 21 games en route to CPL Spring and Fall championships. He’s a centre back/midfielder who is very strong at playing with his feet, which should fit into the Impact’s system, with Montreal coach, Thierry Henry, expected to play an up-tempo brand of football this year.

While the CPL final might not have gone as hoped for both Waterman and Cavalry, as the centre back was sent off for a handball offence in the 1st leg, missing out on the 2nd leg at home, where Cavalry fell to Forge for the first-ever CPL Finals crown, this is a pretty good consolation prize for the Aldergrove man. With this transfer, Waterman becomes the first CPL player to move up to MLS, marking another historic moment for the league.

Reports first circulated surrounding a potential transfer back in December, when Nilton Jorge and Sofiane Benzaza of Kan Footbal Club, a Montreal-based podcast, broke the news that Waterman was among potential winter targets for the Impact. Things then remained quiet on that front, until last week, where a Montreal twitter account, @IMFCSupporter, announced that he had learned that Cavalry and Montreal had found common ground on a potential agreement.

Today, rumours started to fire hot and heavy, with Jorge and Benzaza suggesting that a deal was close, before local reporter Vincent Destouches indicated that Waterman was close to finalizing a deal. CPL reporter Thomas Nef then threw his name into the cap, announcing that Waterman had been spotted in Montreal to finalize a transfer.

Joel Waterman est sur le point de signer avec #IMFC. Il reste un détail à régler avant un accord officiel.



Déf. central capable d’évoluer en milieu déf., il a joué 25 matchs (1B, 3P) avec @CPLCavalryFC en 2019. Âgé de bientôt 24 ans, il est originaire de BC 🇨🇦#IMFC @TVASports — Vincent Destouches (@100_Soccer) January 13, 2020

Some #IMFC & #CavsFC news: Joel Waterman was seen today at Centre Nutrilait.



He is set to become the first-ever #CanPL player to be exported in @CPLsoccer history.



It was previously reported out of Montreal that they had come to terms on a transfer agreement. #MLS https://t.co/NbyhquGGoP — Thomas Nef (@ThomasNef2) January 13, 2020

According to sources close to the situation, BTS was told that a deal is finished, with personal terms the last hurdle to overcome. The Impact are expected to finalize an announcement quite soon, adding the centre back to their ranks ahead of what promises to be a busy season for them, as they juggle the added responsibility of qualifying for the CONCACAF Champions League, thanks to their Voygauers Cup victory last year.

BTS reached out to both clubs for comment, but they were unable to provide any additional information on the impending move.

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