Maxime Crépeau traded to LAFC

After rumors of a transfer filtered out, the Vancouver Whitecaps effectively traded Quebec goaltender Maxime Crépeau to Los Angeles FC on Thursday.

In return, the BC team will receive $1 million in general allocation amount spread over three seasons as well as a first-round pick to the Major League Soccer (MLS) SuperDraft in 2025. Several conditions will also depend on performances from the 27-year-old, but this trade will go down in history as one of the most important involving a goaltender.

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According to what journalist Tom Bogert reported on Wednesday, Crépeau would have expressed the wish to leave Vancouver for family reasons and had not yet appeared at training camp for the Whitecaps for this reason.

« Max made a very personal request to us, » confirmed the team’s sporting director, Axel Schuster, in a press release. Even though he was an important player, we obviously made the decision to support Max as much as we could, as long as his value was taken into account. [dans la transaction].”

Crépeau was trained by CF Montreal, with whom he played eight games in 2017. Arrived in Vancouver in 2019, he became one of the best in his profession in MLS. Last year, he allowed just 31 goals in 27 games and had six shutouts.

“From the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank everyone within the Vancouver Whitecaps organization for their support from day one,” said Crépeau, who says he made one of the most heartbreaking decisions. of his life.

“He gave his heart and soul to this team and he earned the respect of everyone at the club,” added Schuster.

Next season, the Whitecaps should trust young Canadian Thomas Hasal in goal. In Los Angeles, Crépeau is expected to share the job with Tomas Romero.