Montreal Impact sign Canadian international defender Zorhan Bassong

UPDATE (Dec. 1, 1 pm ET): The Montreal Impact made it official Tuesday, announcing the signing of Canadian left back Zorhan Bassong to a two-season contract with two option years. His acquisition will be confirmed upon reception of his international transfer certificate and medical examination. 

“We are very happy to announce the signing of Zorhan Bassong, with whom we’ve had an agreement for 2021 for some time. We preferred to wait to make the announcement to avoid destabilizing the players in his position, and achieve our 2020 goals,” Montreal Impact sporting director Olivier Renard said in a statement. “He is a versatile young Canadian, playing as a left or right back, or as a center-back in a three-man defense. He’s shown a great desire to come back here, and he is delighted with the club’s project.”

TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Report

The Montreal Impact may be on the verge of their first offseason acquisition.

According to TVA Sports' analyst Vincent Destouches, the Impact will sign Canadian left back Zorhan Bassong. Destouches reports it will be a free transfer from Cercle Brugge, but the Belgian club will retain a percentage of any future transfer.

Bassong, 21, represented Belgium at the youth level, but made his senior Canadian national team debut in January. He has two caps. The left back is yet to make his senior professional debut in club soccer, though. 

Before joining Brugge, Bassong spent time in the youth setups of Lille and Anderlecht. 

The Impact's MLS season is over after a playoff loss to the New England Revolution, but will return to the pitch in December to finish their Concacaf Champions League campaign. 

Club captain and regular starting left back Jukka Raitala will not return to the club in 2021 as he is out of contract. Sporting director Olivier Renard confirmed to media last week the club will not be extending an offer.