Joey Saputo Puts CF Montreal Up for Sale After More Than Three Decades of Family Ownership

CF Montreal chairman Joey Saputo announced on Monday, November 9, 2026, the launch of a structured process to sell the Major League Soccer club. The announcement starts the search for new ownership after more than three decades of Saputo family control.

"After more than three decades of commitment, we believe this is the appropriate time to begin the process of identifying new ownership for CF Montreal," Saputo said in the club statement.

Advisors appointed, club keeps operating

The Saputo family has retained BMO Capital Markets as lead financial advisor and National Bank of Canada Capital Markets as co-advisor to manage the sale. The club said the process is being conducted in coordination with MLS.

The club said its priority is to give the right Quebec based investors an opportunity to come forward. It said the club will continue to operate as usual, with no changes to day to day operations, sporting activities or community engagement. Management, including Gabriel Gervais, Luca Saputo and Simone Saputo, remains in place.

Saputo said he prefers a local buyer who keeps the team in Montreal. He said he would love for the club to stay in the city if a buyer with the capacity to run it comes forward, but he would not rule out relocation and would not discount the club to keep it in Montreal.

A family club since 1992

The Saputo family founded the club in 1992 as the Montreal Impact. The club statement says the family has been involved since 1993. The family guided the club to its MLS expansion season in 2012, and the team has played in the league since then.

Sale follows the worst season in club history

CF Montreal concluded the 2026 MLS regular season in last place in the 15 team Eastern Conference. The club finished with 26 points, from six wins, 20 losses and eight draws. The club statement coverage described it as the worst season in club history. Head coach Marco Donadel was fired in April.

Forbes ranked CF Montreal last in its 2026 MLS team valuations, at an estimated $440 million. Sportico values the club at $430 million.

The sale process now turns on whether a Quebec based buyer steps forward at a price the family will accept, or whether interest from outside the province tests Saputo's stated preference to keep the club in Montreal.