In another blockbuster move, Atlético Ottawa announced Tuesday that it had acquired Ivory Coast-born Canadian Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla. The left winger joins the Ottawa club on a three-year contract.

A product of the Montreal Impact Academy, Tabla spent time with Quebec amateur clubs, with the Impact’s U18 side in the U.S Soccer Development Academy and with FC Montreal in the USL, before signing a Homegrown Player by the Montreal Impact (now CF Montreal) in 2016. At that time, Tabla was also said to be eyed by several big European teams the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, and FC Barcelona. 

In January 2018, after establishing himself as an emerging talent in Major League Soccer, featuring in 21 matches, scoring twice, and setting up two more goals, Tabla became the first Impact Academy product to be sold to Europe at age 18. He went on to play in 30 matches over two seasons with Barcelona B in Spain’s second tier.

Tabla returned to MLS in August 2019, first on a loan agreement, then on a permanent transfer to CF Montreal, with the promise of more demonstration of the electric winger’s vast potential. In 2020 and 2021, he featured sparingly for the Montreal club, but made a splash in the September 2021 Canadian Championship matchup against Halifax, scoring two goals to help his side move on to capture a fifth Voyageurs Cup. 

Battling through injuries since his return to Canada, Tabla, still only 22 years old, will look to re-establish himself as a contributing, competitive asset in the Canadian Premier League.

“The last few years have been tough for me, I had to fight through injuries what seemed every six months or so,” offered Tabla. “I feel good now, I’m healthy, and I’m happy to be in Ottawa!”

Having selected to represent Canada on the international stage, Tabla also featured for the maple leaf in the 2019-2020 Concacaf Nations League qualification process and was named to the 2020 Concacaf Men’s Olympic Qualifying Championship. He also collected accolades during his youth soccer years, earning the Canadian U-20 Player of the Year in 2016, the Canadian U-17 Player of the Year in 2014, and the FSQ Male Youth Player of Excellence in 2014 and 2015. 

“We are thrilled to welcome Ballou to our club,” commented Fernando López, CEO of Atlético Ottawa. “We saw that he loves to get on the ball, attack the opposition and create opportunities. We expect him to be one of the most dangerous attackers in the league and cannot wait to see him – and our club – succeed!” 

“I like to express myself on the field,” summarized the young talent. “I like to dribble, I like to take up one v one situations, I like to set up my teammates… I like to have fun! I look forward to playing in Ottawa and at TD Place.”

Following today’s announcement, Atlético Ottawa’s roster sits at seventeen (17), with additional reinforcements expected to come later during pre-season through various loan agreements. 

While players under contract continue their individual preparation, the squad will gather for the first time at the end of February. Further details regarding the pre-season camp will be announced in the coming weeks. 

Atlético Ottawa 2022 Roster as of February 15th, 2022

GK: Nathan Ingham (CAN), Sean Melvin (CAN)
Defenders: Miguel Acosta (ESP), Drew Beckie (CAN), MacDonald Ngwa Niba (CMR), Maxim Tissot (CAN), Zachary Roy (CAN)
Midfielders: Keven Alemán (CAN), Zakaria Bahous (CAN), Ollie Bassett (GBR), Chris Mannella (CAN), Ben McKendry (CAN), Zach Verhoven (CAN)
Forwards: Carl Haworth (CAN), Malcolm Shaw (CAN), Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla (CAN), Brian Wright (CAN)