Jean-Aniel Eclesiaste Assi (born 12 August 2004) is a professional soccer player who plays as a winger for Crown Legacy FC of MLS Next Pro. Born in the Ivory Coast, Assi represents Canada internationally.

Jean-Aniel Assi
Personal information
Full name Jean-Aniel Eclesiaste Assi
Date of birth (2004-08-12) 12 August 2004 (age 20)
Place of birth Adzopé, Ivory Coast
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
Marbella
Number 12
Youth career
ASM LaSalle
Royal-Sélect de Beauport
2017–2020 Montreal Impact
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2023 CF Montréal[a] 0 (0)
2022Cavalry FC (loan) 19 (0)
2023Atlético Ottawa (loan) 25 (1)
2024 Crown Legacy FC 7 (0)
2024– Marbella 2 (0)
International career
2019 Canada U15 5 (4)
2022 Canada U20 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 31, 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of June 26, 2022

Early life

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Born in Adzopé, Ivory Coast, in 2004, Assi moved to Canada at age 10.[1] He began playing youth soccer in Canada with ASM LaSalle,[2] before joining Royal-Sélect de Beauport.[3] In 2017, he joined the Montreal Impact Academy.[4] In 2020, he took part in the pre-season training camp with the first team, when he was only fifteen.[5]

Club career

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On 4 December 2020, Assi signed his first homegrown contract with Montreal Impact (later renamed CF Montréal for the 2021 season).[6][7] Assi made his professional debut with Montreal Impact in a 1-0 CONCACAF Champions League win over C.D. Olimpia on 15 December 2020,[1] becoming the youngest ever player to play for the club at the age of 16 years and 125 days.[8][9]

In March 2022, Assi went on a one-year loan with Canadian Premier League side Cavalry FC.[10][11] In February 2023, he went on loan with Atlético Ottawa.[12] Upon completion of the 2023 Season, CF Montréal would announce that they would not pick up Assi's contract for 2024, ending his time with the club.[13]

In January 2024, Assi joined Crown Legacy FC, the MLS Next Pro affiliate of Charlotte FC.[14]

International career

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As of January 2021, Assi is eligible to represent both the Ivory Coast and Canada.[1] In July 2019, he made his debut in the Canadian youth program at a U15 camp.[2] He represented the Canada U15s at the 2019 CONCACAF Boys' Under-15 Championship,[15] where he was named to the Tournament All-Star XI.[16] In June 2022, he was named to the Canadian U-20 team for the 2022 CONCACAF U-20 Championship.[17]

Career statistics

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As of October 7, 2023[18]
Club League Season League Playoffs Domestic Cup Continental Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
CF Montreal Major League Soccer 2020 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
2021 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
Cavalry FC (loan) Canadian Premier League 2022 19 0 0 0 2 0 21 0
Atlético Ottawa (loan) 2023 25 1 2 0 27 1
Career Total 44 1 0 0 4 0 1 0 49 1

Notes

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  1. ^ Montreal Impact changed its name to CF Montréal in 2021

References

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  1. ^ a b c Piedboeuf, Guillaume (4 January 2021). "Jean-Aniel Assi, le jeune joyau ivoirien de l'Impact forgé à Québec" [Jean-Aniel Assi, the young Ivorian jewel of the Impact forged in Quebec]. Ici Radio-Canada Télé (in French).
  2. ^ a b Jean-Aniel Assi at the Canadian Soccer Association
  3. ^ Tardif, Carl (21 December 2020). "Soccer: le saut dans l'histoire de Jean-Aniel Assi" [Soccer: the jump in the history of Jean-Aniel Assi]. Le Soleil (in French).
  4. ^ "Jean-Aniel Assi avec l'équipe première" [Jean-Aniel Assi with the first team]. SE Sports Management (in French). 4 December 2020.
  5. ^ "Au camp de l'Impact de Montréal à 15 ans" [At the Montreal Impact camp at age 15]. Le Journal de Montréal (in French). 14 January 2020.
  6. ^ "Jean-Aniel Assi, Sean Rea, Nathan-Dylan Saliba et Rida Zouhir signent avec l'Impact". RDS. 4 December 2020.
  7. ^ Bogert, Tom (4 December 2020). "Montreal Impact sign four players to homegrown contracts". Major League Soccer.
  8. ^ "L'Impact éliminé en quart de finale – Foot 2020" [The Impact eliminated in the quarter-finals - Foot 2020]. Foot Euro 2020 (in French). 16 December 2020.
  9. ^ Parisis, Quentin (3 May 2023). "Jean-Aniel Assi confiant pour la saison et sa progression" [Jean-Aniel Assi confident for the season and his progress]. Canadian Premier League (in French).
  10. ^ "Cavalry FC signs Karifa Yao and Jean-Aniel Assi of CF Montreal on Loan to the 2022 Roster". Cavalry FC. 18 March 2022.
  11. ^ Jacques, John (18 March 2022). "CF Montreal Loans Yao And Assi To Cavalry". Northern Tribune.
  12. ^ "Atlético Ottawa signs CF Montréal winger Jean-Aniel Assi on-loan". Atlético Ottawa. 15 February 2023.
  13. ^ "CF Montréal exercises options on four players for the 2024 season". CF Montréal. 1 December 2023.
  14. ^ "Crown Legacy FC Sign Three Players in Preparations for Their Second Season". Charlotte FC. Charlotte FC. 25 January 2024.
  15. ^ "Yao returns to Cavalry, bringing along another loaner in Assi". Calgary Sun. 18 March 2022.
  16. ^ "Jean-Aniel Assi becomes Montreal's Youngest Ever Player". Beswick Sports. 15 December 2020.
  17. ^ O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (10 June 2022). "6 CPLers named to Canada squad for Concacaf Men's U-20 Championship". Canadian Premier League.
  18. ^ Jean-Aniel Assi at Soccerway
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