CF Montréal Up for Sale
Joey Saputo announced on Monday that he is initiating a structured sale process for CF Montréal after more than three decades of family ownership, according to The Guardian.
The 62-year-old businessman launched the franchise as the Montreal Impact in 1992 before guiding its transition into Major League Soccer in 2012, ESPN reported. Saputo fought back tears during a press conference at Stade Saputo while explaining that the choice came from careful reflection rather than urgency.
Decades of Stewardship
The Saputo family built the club through five different leagues before securing an MLS expansion franchise for a $40m fee in 2012. Over the years, the organization enjoyed high-profile eras led by star striker Didier Drogba from 2015 to 2016 and manager Wilfried Nancy from 2021 to 2022. Nancy steered the team to impressive heights before departing for the Columbus Crew.
Following Nancy’s exit, Montréal struggled on the pitch and finished the 2026 regular season at the bottom of the Eastern Conference with just six wins in 34 games. The club dismissed its 11th manager in 14 seasons when Marco Donadel was let go in April, as reported by ESPN. Forbes valued the franchise at $435m in June 2025, making it the second-least valuable team in MLS ahead of only the Colorado Rapids.
Saputo prefers a local buyer to prevent relocation
Saputo stated that his clear preference is to find a local buyer who shares a commitment to Quebec and will keep the team in the city. However, he refused to rule out a sale to an out-of-town group that might move the franchise, noting that he would not discount the club just to give it away.
“If the club doesn’t find a local buyer, and I get an offer, and the club needs to be relocated, then I have no choice and that’s the decision I will take,” Saputo said, according to AOL.co.uk.
The family has retained BMO Capital Markets as lead financial advisor and National Bank Financial as co-advisor to manage the sale, according to ESPN. CF Montréal confirmed that day-to-day operations, sporting activities, and community engagement will continue as usual while the structured sale process moves forward.
Questions about the CF Montréal sale process
Who is managing the sale process for CF Montréal?
The Saputo family has retained BMO Capital Markets as the lead financial advisor alongside National Bank Financial as co-advisor to identify potential new owners, according to ESPN.
What will happen to the club’s day-to-side operations during the sale?
CF Montréal announced that day-to-day operations, management, and staff will remain in place and continue as usual throughout the selling period, as reported by CF Montréal.
Where does CF Montréal play its home matches?
The club plays its home matches at Stade Saputo, a 19,000-capacity venue that opened in 2008 and was expanded when the team entered MLS in 2012, according to The Guardian.
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