Montréal signs ex-Arsenal, United star Alexis Sánchez

CF Montréal has signed Chilean forward Alexis Sánchez to a Designated Player contract, the club announced on Tuesday.

Sánchez, 37, was most recently with LaLiga side Sevilla, where he scored four goals in 30 matches across all competitions. He joins Montréal on a contract through next May, which will include the current MLS campaign, as well as the sprint season set to take place in the first half of 2027.

The club retains a one-year option for the 2027-28 campaign, which will be the first under the modified league calendar.

"I am very happy to join CF Montréal and take on this new challenge," said Sánchez. "I'm grateful to the Club for the confidence they've shown in me and I'm eager to put my experience to work so that we can reach our objectives and create memorable moments for our supporters. I'm here to give everything I have for the Club and for this city."

The move sees Sánchez conclude an 18-year spell in Europe, which saw him play for some of the game's biggest clubs including River Plate, Barcelona, Arsenal, Manchester United and Internazionale.

Along the way, Sánchez was part of teams that claimed six league championships and 11 cup titles. In a career that began in his native Chile with Cobreloa in 2005, he has made over 800 appearances in all competitions at club level, scoring over 200 goals.

"The arrival of Alexis Sánchez represents an important step in our sporting project," said CF Montréal Senior Director Luca Saputo. "Alexis possesses exceptional technical quality and experience at the highest level of world football. His personality, leadership and competitive mindset fully align with our club's identity and ambitions. We are of firm belief that he will have an immediate impact both on the field and in the locker room."

At international level, Sánchez was a stalwart for Chile, leading La Roja to two Copa América titles in 2015 and 2016, both of which came at the expense of Lionel Messi and Argentina. In the latter competition, Sánchez was awarded the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player.

Sánchez holds Chile's all-time records for both goals scored (51) and international appearances (168).

Montréal sits second-to-last in MLS' Eastern Conference, with 16 points from 18 games played. Its next games is at home against DC United on Aug. 15.