Kwadwo Opoku may have only played three games with CF Montreal, but what he saw of the team and the city convinced him to stay for a few years.
Acquired from Los Angeles FC on July 5, in return for a general allocation amount of US$1,650,000 in 2023 and a general allocation amount of $100,000 in 2024, Opoku signed a contract valid until the end of the 2026 season on Monday. The agreement also comes with an option year for 2027.
On the eve of the Montreal team’s second game in the Coupe des Ligues tournament, against D.C. United, Opoku said he was very happy to have come to common ground so quickly.
“I see the project and the way things are going here. It’s a place where I can develop a lot as a young player to achieve my dream. This is a great opportunity for me and a great situation to improve myself and even become a better person. »
During a media availability the day after Opoku’s acquisition, head coach Hernan Losada said the Montreal organization had been eyeing the 22-year-old Ghanaian for some time.
Negotiations may have taken place before Opoku arrived in Montreal on July 8, but Opoku was unaware. He said discussions took place after his first game with the team on July 12.
“I don’t know if there were any contract negotiations before I arrived. I played my first match and then we started talking,” he said.
With the Bleu-blanc-noir, Opoku made two appearances in the starting XI for a total of 121 minutes of play. He notably moved the ropes in a 2-0 victory against Charlotte FC on July 15.
The Ghanaian striker also faced Mexican side Pumas UNAM for 77 minutes last Saturday in CF Montreal’s first Coupe des Ligue clash.
Opoku came to breathe some speed and one-on-one talent into the Montreal attack, which is among the worst in MLS and which must deal with the long-term injury suffered by Romell Quioto, its leading scorer in 2022.
Opoku insisted on the fact that he liked Montreal and that he immediately felt integrated within the formation.
“My teammates, coaches and staff have welcomed me as one of their own from day one here,” he said. It’s really touching and I like it. The city is beautiful and there are several beautiful places to visit. I think it’s a good place to start my journey. »
A journey that could eventually lead him to Europe, where several players, including Opoku, want to play their careers. The Ghanaian, however, remained cautious about the length of his time in Montreal.
“I have my goals and my dreams in mind. I have an idea of how many years I want to be here and when I’d like to leave, but I’m not going to say more. In the meantime, I love being here,” he said.
Opoku lifted the MLS Cup with LAFC in 2022. In three and a half seasons with the California team, he played 60 games, including 35 starts, registering nine goals and seven assists. In the playoffs, he appeared in four games, scoring a goal in a 3-0 win over Austin FC in the Western Conference Final.
Before making the jump to North America, Opoku scored 29 goals in 64 games for Attram De Visser Soccer Academy. Internationally, he has represented Ghana at U-17 and U-20 levels, including taking part in the 2017 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon, where he featured in two of the group stage matches.
