Canada’s Ismael Kone completes transfer to Watford from CF Montreal
The World Cup has helped one other younger Canadian transfer overseas.
Midfielder Ismael Kone is leaving CF Montreal for England’s Watford, turning into the second member of Canada’s World Cup squad to change groups since leaving Qatar.
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Watford, which performs in England’s second-tier Championship, stated the 20-year-old Kone will be part of the membership Jan. 1 on a 4 1/2-year contract.
Watford, whose honorary life president is Elton John, at present sits fourth within the Championship at 9-6-6.
Kone follows former Montreal teammate Alistair Johnston in heading to Europe. The 24-year-old fullback/wingback’s switch to Scotland’s Glasgow Celtic was confirmed Saturday.
Kone noticed motion in every of Canada’s three video games on the World Cup, coming off the bench towards Belgium, Croatia and Morocco. He has received 9 caps in all.
After the Croatia recreation, he stated he had been unfazed on the prospect of matching up towards a star-studded midfield in Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea) and Marcelo Brozovic (Inter Milan).
“I just see good players, players I want to compare myself too,” Kone stated. “They’re players that play on a big stage in Europe. But there’s no fear playing against them. It’s only enjoyment. It’s just going out there and having fun, I guess.”
For Kone, the switch to England is one other step ahead in his speedy rise.
“I’m only 20 and I get to play on a world stage,” he stated in Qatar. “It’s unbelievable.”
“I didn’t have a professional contract two years ago but here I am,” he added.
Kone, whose take care of Montreal was for 2 years with choices in 2023 and 2024, made a modest US$68,125 as a rookie in 2022.
Born within the Ivory Coast, Kone was seven when he got here to Canada and signed a professional contact with Montreal, his hometown membership, in August 2021. He made his Major League Soccer debut in February.
Olivier Renard, Montreal’s vice-president and chief sporting officer, referred to as Kone “an awesome instance for younger Montrealers and Quebecers.”
“We are very happy for Ismael. Both his evolution as a player and the outcome of this transfer have been very fast,” Renard, stated in an announcement.
“The membership has helped him develop as a participant, but additionally as a person, and I’m pleased with his development. When the expertise is there, it’s not a query of age or expertise. He made his selection from amongst a number of choices obtainable to him.”
Kone opened his worldwide account with a highlight-reel objective in a 2-2 draw with Bahrain on Nov. 11 in a pre-tournament warmup in Manama.
Kamal Miller, with an extended ball from deep in Canada territory, discovered his Montreal teammate, who used a deft first contact to race previous a defender and steam towards objective with out interference, beating Bahrain ‘keeper Ebrahim Lutfalla with a excessive shot.
He made his senior debut for Canada in a 1-0 loss at Costa Rica in March.
Kone performed for CS St-Laurent earlier than becoming a member of the Montreal academy, signing his professional contract quickly after.
He performed 26 video games throughout the common season this 12 months, together with 18 begins, with two objectives and 5 assists. He began each of Montreal’s playoff video games in addition to three of the crew’s 4 video games within the CONCACAF Champions League, scoring towards Orlando City and Mexico’s Santos Laguna.
The exodus from Montreal continues with Kone and Johnston following U.S. star midfielder Djordje Mihailovic, who was bought to Dutch membership AZ Alkmaar. His switch can also be efficient Jan. 1.
