The Montreal Impact officially added a big piece to their back line on Thursday, signing Belgian international center back Laurent Ciman to a three-year contract from Standard Liège.
Contrary to previous reports, the 29-year-old Ciman will not occupy a Designated Player spot in Montreal. Ciman has been a regular with the Belgian national team since 2010, making the squad – but not appearing in any matches – for the Red Devils at last summer’s FIFA World Cup.
Ciman is joining the Impact due in part to family reasons: He wants optimal care for his oldest daughter, who is autistic, and Canada is considered a first-rate option.
"I'm very excited to join the Montreal Impact and MLS. This will be a new adventure for me and my family,” Ciman said in a statement released by the club. “It is also an opportunity for my daughter, so that she could have the proper support and instruction. I would like to thank the president, my agent and all the staff of the club for this new challenge. I can't wait to meet my new teammates, the city and the fans.”
Ciman has spent his entire career in the Belgian first division, playing a total of 286 regular season games in stints with Charleroi, Club Brugge, KV Kortrijk and Standard Liège from 2004-15. He has played the last six seasons with Standard Liège, appearing in 151 regular-season games and nearly two dozen European contests for the 10-time Jupiler League champions.
Ciman will play his final match with Liège on Sunday, when he will suit up against former MLS players Sacha Kljestan and Andy Najar from rival Anderlecht.
“We are very pleased to acquire a player of Laurent’s quality, and we are very excited that he has decided to continue his career with our club,” Impact head coach Frank Klopas said in the statement. “We were looking for a quality center back with a lot of experience. He is a key addition to our defense and will be a leader within the group.”
Ciman will likely serve as the defensive leader for Montreal, which also added defenders Bakary Soumare in the Re-Entry process and Victor Cabrera on loan from River Plate this offseason.
The Impact will kick off their preseason on Friday, training for two weeks in Montreal before heading to Mexico on Feb. 8 in preparation for the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal series against Liga MX club Pachuca, to be played Feb. 24. The return leg in Montreal is scheduled for March 3.
