The soccer scene in Canada has experienced an explosion in popularity over the last decade and the Canucks have made the transition from a peripheral participant to a major player on the international stage in recent years.
Canada has become a fertile breeding ground for exciting young footballers thanks to a mixture of increased investment and the overall growth of the sport in the country in general, and while the Canadian national team still have work to do to place themselves among the favourites in the outright markets for international tournaments, huge strides have been made in the right direction.
With players like Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David leading the charge, Canada ended a 36-year wait to qualify for a World Cup when they made the cut for Qatar in 2022 and they are likely to be a short-price dark horse on BC sportsbooks when they co-host the next iteration of the tournament in 2026.
The Canadian roster is certain to be bolstered by the emergence of more top young talent over the next couple of years and below, we’ve shone the spotlight on five Canadian youngsters currently forging big reputations in Europe’s major leagues.
Moise Bombito (Nice) – Defender
Quebec-born Moise Bombito is an imposing presence at 6’ 3” and the centre-half has been impressing in the early months of his maiden campaign in France’s Ligue 1 with Nice.
Bombito was a high-school and college player in his homeland before he was snapped up by MLS outfit Colorado Rapids in 2023 during the Superdraft.
Bombito’s dynamic displays in the USA alerted a number of European clubs to his potential, though the 24-year-old, who has been capped 16 times for Canada, opted to join Nice.
Niko Sigur (Hadjuk Split) – Midfielder
British Columbia native Niko Sigur has been plying his trade at club level with Croatian powerhouse Hajduk Split since last year and the combative midfielder’s displays earned him a first appearance for Canada against Mexico earlier this year.
Sigur, who only turned 21 in September, has been catching the eye for a strong Hadjuk Split outfit this season, who are currently setting the pace in the Croatian top tier.
Sigur combines tough tackling with silky passing from deep for Split and he should develop into a classy operator for both club and country soon.
Ismael Kone (Marseille) – Midfielder
Powerful midfielder Ismael Kone has been a regular fixture for Canada since making his debut for the Canucks in 2022 and the anchorman has collected 25 caps since, scoring three times along the way.
The 22-year-old, who was born in the Ivory Coast, broke through with Canadian MLS club Montreal before signing for English side Watford in 2022. Kone’s performances for the Hornets attracted interest from French giants Marseille in the summer and he completed a move in that direction before the start of the new club campaign.
Kone was named Canada’s Young Player of the Year for 2022 and 2023, with those accolades serving to highlight how highly he is rated in Canadian soccer circles.
Kwasi Poku (RWD Molenbeek) – Attacker
First capped against Panama in October this year, Kwasi Poku is a fresh face on the scene for Canada, though the 21-year-old has the talent to establish himself as a first-team staple for the Canucks over the next few years.
Equipped with two good feet and a goal poacher’s instinct, Poku made the jump from Canadian Premier League side Forge FC to Belgian club RWD Molenbeek in the summer, swapping employers for a CPL-record fee.
Poku is already up and running in Belgium with two goals in eight appearances for RWD, so expect to hear more about him soon.
Luc de Fougerolles (Fulham) – Defender
Luc de Fougerolles is on the cusp of a first-team breakthrough at English Premier League club Fulham, though the 19-year-old has already been nudged into the first-team picture for Canada having picked up his first two caps for the Canucks this year.
The versatile teenager, who can be deployed in defence or in midfield, has been attached to the Cottagers since the age of five, working his way up through the club’s academy ranks to the cusp of the first-team ranks.
De Fougerolles was chosen to start in Canada’s Copa America Third Place Playoff against Uruguay in the summer and though he was booked after just seven minutes, he showed excellent composure to excel in a high-profile fixture after that. The young defender could become a key component in the Canadian national team’s defence before the 2026 World Cup.