CF Montreal Founder Joey Saputo Announces Sale, Refuses to Rule Out Relocation

CF Montreal owner and founder Joey Saputo has confirmed that his family is putting the MLS franchise up for sale after more than three decades in charge. Speaking at a press conference on Monday afternoon, an emotional Saputo revealed plans to step away, raising immediate questions about the team's long-term future in Quebec. Crucially, the long-time owner refused to rule out the possibility of the club being relocated by its prospective new buyers.

A Three-Decade Era Comes to a Close

Saputo has been the driving force behind the Quebecois club since its inception, steering the organisation as its owner for over three decades. The magnitude of the transition was evident during his Monday afternoon press briefing, where the founder paused multiple times to fight back tears while addressing the media and supporters.

Despite the emotional weight of his departure, Saputo was quick to emphasise that the move to sell the team was not a sudden choice forced upon the family.

"This decision is neither driven by urgency, nor dictated by circumstance,"

he stated.

Initiating a Structured Transition

Rather than a rushed exit, the Saputo family is formally

"initiating a structured sale process"

to find the right successors for the MLS side. The approach is designed to evaluate the best path forward for the organisation as it transitions away from its founding ownership group.

Saputo elaborated on the reasoning behind the timing of the CF Montreal sale, explaining to the press:

"It’s the result of a careful and deliberate reflection on where we stand today, and more importantly, on the opportunities that lie ahead for the club."

Relocation Fears Loom for the Franchise

While the sale process is described as structured and deliberate, the most pressing concern for the fanbase is the geographical future of the team. When pressed on the matter during the announcement, Saputo pointedly refused to rule out a potential relocation of the franchise.

With the club officially on the market, the search for new ownership begins immediately. Whether the eventual buyers will commit to keeping the team in Quebec or explore moving the MLS franchise to a new market remains the central uncertainty surrounding this historic transition.