June 15, 2022...York United FC Confirms Transfer of Diyaeddine Abzi to French Club Pau (from York United FC website)

YORK UNITED FC CONFIRMS TRANSFER OF DIYAEDDINE ABZI TO FRENCH CLUB PAU

An ever-present since the inception of the Canadian Premier League, the 23-year-old has blossomed
into a star.

York United FC can confirm the transfer of left-back Diyaeddine Abzi to French Ligue 2 club Pau.

The 23-year-old will remain available for the team's next two fixtures (versus Pacific FC
and Vancouver Whitecaps) and will depart following the Canadian Championship semi-final clash
at BC Place next Wednesday night.

Born in Morocco but raised in Montreal, Abzi has been with The Nine Stripes since the inception
of the Canadian Premier League and signed for the club in February, 2019. Over the subsequent years,
Abzi has blossomed into a star of the CPL and earned consistently rave reviews for an abundance
of superb performances.

His debut campaign saw him make 30 appearances in all competitions (24 in the league and six
in the Canadian Championship), scoring once and adding four assists. And despite Abzi only managing
five games at The Island Games bubble tournament in 2020 as the Covid-19 pandemic enforced
the suspension of a regular CPL season, he was selected in the Canada Under-23 squad for their
crucial Olympic qualifiers in early 2021 and made his debut against Mexico in Guadalajara.

Abzi kept up that momentum and channeled it into what proved a spectacular year for him. With his
surging runs from deep, silky skills and fancy footwork, deadly set-piece plays and an on-field
magnetism that ensured he quickly became an integral attacking ingredient, he racked up six league
goals to finish as the team's joint top-scorer and also helped himself to three assists
over 28 appearances across league and cup.

So far in 2022, he's managed nine league appearances and also helped steer the club to the final
four of the Canadian Championship.

Abzi's new side won promotion to the second tier of French football in 2020 and last season
finished 10th in the table.

"We got to a situation where multiple clubs were showing interest but this was the move that
he (Abzi) really wanted. It was then on us to come to an agreement with Pau," says Angus McNab,
York United FC's President/CEO & GM.

"I’m very grateful to them for being so understanding of how crucial our upcoming games are
and agreeing to a release after the Canadian Championship semi-final with Vancouver Whitecaps
next week. It also allows us to announce the move in advance so that our supporters and all
CPL fans get the chance to say 'Bon voyage' this weekend in our league game vs Pacific FC."

"Abzi has shown what this league is all about. A young player was presented with a platform
and handed an opportunity that he's harnessed and really made his own. Now we see him move
to an illustrious football nation and into one of the most scouted leagues in world football.
That was crucial to us because in addition to the transfer fee, we also have a significant
sell-on clause should he move on from Pau in the future."

"Finally, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank him for everything he's contributed
to this club over the last number of years and we wish him nothing but the very best."

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