Toronto FC signs well-travelled Norwegian forward Adama Diomande

Toronto FC has signed veteran Norwegian forward Adama Diomande through 2024 with an option for 2025.

Diomande, who turns 33 next month, was with Norway's Odds BK most recently but previously played for Toronto head coach Bob Bradley at Norway's Stabaek (2015) and Los Angeles FC (2018).

"He is a proven striker with vast experience playing in MLS and Europe. His smart runs, athletic presence, and skill to finish in the box will immediately impact our attack,” Bradley said in a statement.

Bradley, who doubles as TFC's sporting director, had been looking to add to a strike force that features Jesus Jimenez, Ayo Akinola, Deandre Kerr and Jordan Perruzza with Italian stars Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi manning the wings.

Canada’s Jessie Fleming, Bev Priestman shortlisted for FIFA Best Football Awards

Midfielder Jessie Fleming, named Canada's player of the year in December, is now in contention for the Best FIFA Women’s Player.

Canada coach Bev Priestman has also been shortlisted for the Best FIFA Women's Coach.

FIFA announced its shortlist for its Best Football Awards on Thursday. Nominees for the men's award include France's Kylian Mbappé, Argentina's Lionel Messi and Brazil's Neymar.

Fleming is one of 14 nominees for the Best FIFA Women’s Player. Her opposition includes Chelsea teammate Sam Kerr of Australia.

Bobcats set for futsal title defence

Like the Brandon University Bobcats but find soccer too slow? Like soccer but despise freezing on a late-October afternoon to watch? You’re in luck.

Kamara trade request looms over CF Montreal pre-season training

MONTREAL - An already tumultuous off-season for CF Montreal has taken another twist, with striker Kei Kamara looking to leave the Major League Soccer club.

Kamara was absent from Montreal as it started pre-season training this week, with the team saying the Sierra Leone native was still in Africa and feeling ill.

Since then, his absence has turned into a media storm as the 38-year-old announced that he has requested a trade after contracts extension negotiations fell through.

"I threw all my eggs in one basket telling my family I found a place we can call home, finish playing my career and possibly more, but looks like it was just a dream," said Kamara on social media Wednesday morning. "I never wanted it to come to this, but I want to let you know I have asked the club for a trade."

Canadian midfielder Samantha Chang ready for next step on soccer adventure

After a stellar career at the University of South Carolina, Canadian midfielder Samantha Chang now looks forward to playing professionally.

The first door to possibly open is Thursday's NWSL draft. But the 22-year-old from Mississauga, Ont., who has already won one cap for Canada, is also investigating options overseas.

Her future has yet to unfold.

"I'm not really sure. There are so many unknowns," said Chang, who knows the challenges that await.

Veteran Victor Vazquez looks to help bring Toronto FC back to its glory years

Victor Vazquez was cheering for his native Spain at the recent World Cup but he still celebrated Argentina's tournament win.

Vazquez, starting his second go-round with Toronto FC, and Argentine captain Lionel Messi go back a long way — to the celebrated FC Barcelona youth academy where the two were young guns on the Spanish powerhouse's Class of '87 side.

While a knee injury eventually derailed Vazquez's first-team career with Barca, Messi's star never stopped climbing. Now with Paris Saint-Germain, the Argentine attacker capped his career by hoisting the World Cup in Qatar.

"I knew it was his last chance to win a World Cup," Vazquez said Tuesday from San Diego where TFC is holding the first portion of its training camp. "I'm super-happy and so glad for him … Finally he achieved the big one, which I think is the most important one as a football player.

CF Montreal fires coach for past comments suggesting Quebec premier be assassinated

MONTREAL - CF Montreal president and chief executive officer Gabriel Gervais says he expected some backlash over the hiring of Sandro Grande as coach of its under-23 academy team.

Fifteen hours later, after widespread condemnation from politicians and fans alike, Grande was out and Gervais admitted the Major League Soccer club made a mistake.

Grande's hiring came under immediate scrutiny after it was announced Monday over comments he made on social media in the wake of the 2012 Quebec election night shooting outside a Parti Québécois gathering with leader Pauline Marois.

A post from his Twitter account read: "The only mistake the shooter made last night was to miss his target!!! Marois!!! Next time buddy! Hopefully!"

Hernan Losada era at CF Montreal officially begins with pre-season training session

MONTREAL - Hernan Losada officially started his tenure as manager of CF Montreal on Monday as the Major League Soccer club had its first official training session of the pre-season at Olympic Stadium.

"It was excellent. This is a really good group with a lot of motivation and energy," said Losada. "I'm also happy to just get the season underway, but overall, just very positive."

It was the first time CF Montreal has been together since their Eastern Conference quarterfinal loss to New York City FC three months ago. In that time, the team has undergone some significant changes both on and off the field.

In addition to losing head coach Wilfried Nancy, right-back Alistair Johnston, as well as midfielders Djordje Mihailovic, and Ismaël Koné have all moved to Europe after standout 2023 seasons.

Former Canada assistant coach takes over as head coach of the NWSL Portland Thorns

Mike Norris landed in B.C. in 2005, looking to travel across Canada as part of a yearlong trip. The Newcastle native never made it past Vancouver.

Norris went on to build his coaching career with UBC, the Vancouver Whitecaps and Canada Soccer before joining the Portland Thorns last January as an assistant to head coach Rhian Wilkinson.

On Monday, the 43-year-old was elevated to head coach of the defending NWSL champion Thorns, filling the void left when Wilkinson, a former Canadian international, resigned Dec. 2.

"The players love him. They've bought into him … His character is phenomenal," said Portland GM Karina LeBlanc, a former Canadian goalkeeper who called Norris a "tactical genius."

Personnel questions linger as Vancouver Whitecaps kick off training camp

VANCOUVER - The off-season was once again too long for Vancouver Whitecaps defender Julian Gressel.

Traded to the 'Caps from D.C. United in July, the 29-year-old wing back proved to be a standout for his new club last year, putting up two goals and two assists in 13 appearances.

But Vancouver narrowly missed the playoffs, leaving Gressel to watch post-season on television.

"The season's over, I'm sitting there watching the playoffs and it hurts a little bit, you know?" he said. "I'm sick and tired of that feeling. And, you know, I want to want to be back there, have that feeling again."

City routs Chelsea in FA Cup, 4th-tier Stevenage ousts Villa

LONDON - Different competition, same outcome. Manchester City beat Chelsea for the second time in less than three days, on this occasion in the FA Cup.

And this time it was a 4-0 thrashing, without even needing Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne.

City's top two players were given a rest after the 1-0 win over Chelsea in the Premier League on Thursday yet they weren't especially missed, with Riyad Mahrez, Julián Álvarez and Phil Foden scoring first-half goals and Mahrez adding another late on in a third-round cruise.

Next up for City in world soccer's oldest knockout competition is a rival that is likely to be its biggest threat to the defense of the Premier League title. Arsenal, which leads second-place City by five points in the league, will be heading to Etihad Stadium in the fourth round if it beats third-tier Oxford United on Monday.

Canadian midfielder Ismael Kone makes debut for Watford in F.A. Cup loss

READING, United Kingdom - Canadian international midfielder Ismael Kone made his debut for Watford on Saturday in a 2-0 loss to Reading in a third-round game in England's FA Cup.

Kone played the full 90 minutes in the matchup of teams from England's second-tier Championship.

Both goals came in stoppage time with Kelvin Abrefa scoring at the end of the first half and Shane Long in the 93rd minute.

Kone showed his speed and vision in the 73rd minute at Select Car Leasing Stadium when he accelerated to intercept a ball at midfield. He drove towards the Reading goal and found a teammate whose weak shot was stopped by the Reading 'keeper.