January 8, 2024...CPL Headlines: York United making moves to start 2024 (from canpl.ca)

CPL Headlines: York United making moves to start 2024
2024-01-08
by MITCHELL TIERNEY, DIGITAL CONTENT PRODUCER (@MITCHELLTIERNEY)

With the calendar turning to January, it’s transfer season around the globe, and the Canadian Premier League has been no different with some significant moves being made of late.

In the second week of 2024, one club stood out as York United FC added some big pieces to their 2024 squad. The Nine Stripes, who finished 2023 with a club record for points (38) and wins (11) and qualified for the playoffs for the second time in club history, will be keen to raise the bar even higher this year under ambitious new ownership group Game Plan Sports.

Here are the biggest headlines from this past week in the Canadian Premier League:

York United sign Canadian international fullback Juan Córdova
The Nine Stripes made a statement of intent this week with the signing of 28-year-old Canadian international fullback Juan Córdova. The Chilean-Canadian has spent the past seven seasons playing in the top flight in Chile, mainly with Huachipato and more recently with Ñublense.

That has included appearing in both the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana where he played against some of the top teams in South America. Córdova has also twice played for the Canadian men’s national team at the senior level.

Córdova told CanPL.ca this week that he is hoping his move to York will re-ignite his national team career ahead of what could be an important year for CanMNT with the possibility of playing in the 2024 Copa America looming.

Positionally flexible, Córdova can play in both fullback roles, as well as further up the pitch as a wingback or wide midfielder which will make him an important piece of Martin Nash’s setup in 2024.

The Nine Stripes add Liechtenstein international winger Dennis Salanovic
Speaking of international pedigree, York United also announced the signing of Liechtenstein international Dennis Salanovic this past week.

The 27-year-old, who spent part of his youth career with Atlético Madrid, has played professionally in Switzerland, Croatia, Finland, and most recently Spain. He won his country’s Footballer of the Year award in 2019.

Salanovic has played 58 matches for his country, scoring four times. That includes games against some of the top countries in world football. Liechtenstein’s most recent group for Euro qualifying, for example, included the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal.

Eleias Himaras re-signs with York, does he have an opportunity to be number one?
One final bit of business from the Nine Stripes this past week saw them re-sign 21-year-old goalkeeper Eleias Himaras to a one-year deal.

After spending most of 2023 on the sidelines with injury, Himaras played just two matches this past season, making nine saves. The year prior, however, he was solid in 10 matches, making 28 saves and earning a clean sheet.

With no other goalkeeper currently announced as under contract, including last year’s starter Niko Giantsopoulos, Himaras may well be given the opportunity to push for the number one job this coming season. While his professional experience remains limited, he had a strong youth career in the Toronto FC academy and played for Canada at the 2019 U-17 World Cup in Brazil.

Former York United, Halifax Wanderers fullback Chrisnovic N’sa signs in Sweden
One more bit of York United adjacent news this week, former Nine Stripes fullback Chrisnovic N’sa announced a move to Swedish club Östersunds FK, who play in the Superettan (Swedish second division).

N’sa, who is 24 and a native of Montréal, made his professional debut with Halifax Wanderers in 2019, and was nominated for the Best U-21 Canadian Player award in 2020 after helping the club qualify for the 2020 Final. He spent the next two seasons with York United, scoring three goals.

The fullback spent this past campaign with Huntsville City SC in MLS Next Pro, where he was reunited with former York teammate Isaiah Johnston.

Östersunds finished fifth in the Superettan last season. They will be looking to return to the top division this season, having been relegated in 2021 after six consecutive seasons in the top flight starting in 2016.

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