French winger Yohan Bai, known for his speed and technical skills, has signed with the Halifax Wanderers of the Canadian Premier League. Simultaneously, Atletico Ottawa acquired the services of Canadian youth international defender Noah Abatneh from York United.
French winger Yohan Bai , with experience in both France's Ligue 2 and Bulgaria's top flight, has joined the Halifax Wanderers of the Canadian Premier League (CPL) on a deal that runs through the 2026 season, with a club option for 2027. The 28-year-old spent the 2024 season split between SC Bastia in France and Lokomotiv Plovdiv in Bulgaria.
Bai's signing was met with enthusiasm by Wanderers coach Patrice Gheisar, who described him as a player capable of injecting speed and individual brilliance into the team's attack. Gheisar highlighted Bai's technical skills, pace, and ability to combine with teammates, praising his upbringing in prominent European clubs and his positive character, believing he will seamlessly integrate into the Halifax environment. In other CPL news, Atletico Ottawa acquired the services of former Canadian youth international defender Noah Abatneh on a one-year contract, with the option to extend it through 2026. Abatneh previously played for York United. Bai, a native of Arras, France, honed his skills in the youth ranks of Amiens SC before embarking on a professional journey that included stints with SAS Epinal, AS Furiani-Agliani, CMS Oissel, and Canet Roussillon FC. His performance in Bulgaria with CSKA Sofia, where he made 34 appearances, scored three goals, and provided six assists, caught the attention of SC Bastia in France's Ligue 2, leading to his 17-appearance, three-goal contribution there. He returned to Bulgaria in 2024 with Lokomotiv Plovdiv before joining Halifax. Halifax sporting director Matt Fegan echoed the sentiment of Bai's talent, emphasizing his versatility across the front line, which aligns perfectly with the team's playing style. Fegan also highlighted Bai's experience gained at prestigious clubs abroad, believing he will contribute significantly to elevating the squad's quality both on and off the field. Bai becomes the Wanderers' fifth international signing for the 2025 season and the second from France, following playmaker Lorenzo Callegari's decision to extend his contract through 2026. Bai expressed gratitude for Callegari's warm welcome and insight into the club, city, and supporters, eagerly anticipating the opportunity to form a strong bond with his teammate on and off the field. Meanwhile, Abatneh, 20, gained recognition for his impressive performances with York United FC, earning a nomination for the CPL's Best Canadian U-21 Player Award in 2024. Ottawa assistant general manager J.D. Ulanowski lauded Abatneh as a complete central defender, possessing both aggression in his defending and exceptional ball-handling skills. Born in Toronto, Abatneh spent three years in Ottawa, playing at youth level alongside current Ottawa defender Tyr Walker. His journey took him to Rome in 2016, representing AS Roma and Lazio at youth levels, before returning to Canada in 2023 to join York, where he made 36 CPL appearances, scoring one goal
Canadian Premier League Halifax Wanderers Yohan Bai Noah Abatneh Atletico Ottawa York United Transfers
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