CF Montreal are signing Alexis Sanchez. The Athletic broke the news Monday, and Montreal have all but confirmed it themselves — their managing director Luca Saputo caught on camera saying, "He wants Alexis, No. 10" on the jersey. That's not a teaser. That's a done deal waiting on paperwork.
Sanchez is 37, fresh off a season with Sevilla where he managed four goals and two assists across 28 appearances. Not vintage Alexis, but functional. The question for Montreal isn't whether he's the player he was at Barcelona or Arsenal — he isn't. The question is whether he's still good enough to move the needle in MLS. Given the level of the league, the answer is probably yes.
What he's actually won
The resume holds up. La Liga title with Barcelona in 2013. Serie A titles with Inter Milan in 2021 and 2024. On the international stage, he's Chile's all-time leader in both goals (51) and caps (168) — numbers that put him comfortably among South America's most decorated forwards of his generation.
He'll occupy a Designated Player slot for Montreal, which tells you exactly how seriously the club is taking this. DP spots are precious in MLS roster construction. Using one on a 37-year-old is a calculated gamble — you're betting the brand value and on-field contribution outweigh the age risk.
The MLS star migration keeps rolling
Sanchez arrives in a summer window that's been genuinely remarkable for the league's ambitions. Robert Lewandowski to Chicago Fire. Antoine Griezmann to Orlando City. Casemiro to Inter Miami. Montreal landing Sanchez fits the pattern — aging European stars, elite CVs, and clubs willing to pay DP money to compete with Messi's shadow.
Whether Montreal can build something meaningful around him depends on what surrounds him. A 37-year-old with heavy legs needs service, not extra responsibility. If the squad can provide that, his reading of the game alone makes him dangerous in this league. If they can't, this becomes an expensive nostalgia exercise.
Financial terms aren't public yet, but in MLS terms, the No. 10 shirt and a DP designation say enough.
