Alexis Sánchez Signs with CF Montreal After Nine Years Away From the Americas

Nine years after leaving Arsenal as one of the most feared forwards in the Premier League, Alexis Sánchez has signed with a club that, until just a few months ago, would have sounded like an unlikely destination: CF Montreal. The Canadian MLS side confirmed the Chilean forward's arrival this Tuesday, and with it came the answer to a lingering question about his number: he'll wear No. 10, the same number he sported during his final stint at Sevilla.

This is no ordinary signing for the Canadian franchise. Sánchez is one of the most decorated players in Chilean soccer history, having played for FC Barcelona, Arsenal, Manchester United, Inter Milan and Olympique de Marseille, and having won two Copa América titles with the Chilean national team (2015 and 2016). Before making the jump to North America, Sánchez spent the 2025-26 season in LaLiga with Sevilla, where he appeared in 30 matches across all competitions and contributed four goals and two assists.

Luca Saputo, the club's director of recruitment and sporting methodology, made no attempt to hide his excitement over the deal. "Alexis Sánchez's arrival represents an important step in our sporting project," he said, adding that "Alexis has exceptional technical quality and experience at the highest level of world soccer. His personality, leadership and competitive mentality are fully aligned with our club's identity and ambitions."

Sánchez himself expressed enthusiasm about the challenge ahead. "I'm very happy to join CF Montreal and take on this new challenge," the forward said, noting that he arrives hoping to bring experience and stature to the team: "I'm eager to put my experience at the service of the team so we can reach our goals and create unforgettable moments for our fans."

A Personal Factor Behind the Decision

Why Montreal, and not another MLS destination with a bigger name? The answer has less to do with soccer than with everyday life. At 37, Sánchez weighed his move to North America with his partner, Alexandra Litvinova, and their daughter, Bela, in mind, since they'll be joining him for this new chapter. Because Litvinova holds Russian citizenship, the immigration process for settling in the United States could have been complicated and taken longer than expected. Canada, on the other hand, offered a smoother path for the whole family to relocate together, and that detail ended up being decisive when it came time to sign.

Saputo also shared some details about how the negotiation came together, noting that it wrapped up in a surprisingly short window given the player's profile. "It happened pretty fast for the type of player he is. Normally, a player like that takes months," the executive said. For his part, club president and former player Gabriel Gervais didn't downplay the significance of the addition: "This is exciting news. It's a very big name, probably one of the biggest we've ever had here."

The Mission: Pulling Montreal Out of the Basement

Montreal's current form demands a show of authority. The team sits 14th in the Eastern Conference with 16 points, seven back of the playoff line, and needs to turn things around in the second half of the season. That's where Sánchez comes in, expected to provide goals, stature and some of the leadership he showed in the locker rooms at Barcelona, Arsenal and Inter.

There's no official debut date yet, since that depends on finalizing the paperwork for his transfer. Still, the schedule points to two matches that could serve as his entry point: Montreal will host D.C. United on August 15 and, four days later, will travel to face the Columbus Crew. From here on out, MLS will have one of its biggest international names wearing Montreal's No. 10 jersey.