The Northern Super League’s inaugural season has already delivered drama, goals, and a wave of national excitement. But as the calendar turned to late June, history was made once again. For the first time, NSL clubs were able to strengthen midstream, dipping into international markets, scouting local gems, and bringing home familiar faces.
The result? A flurry of moves that may reshape not only the second half of this season but the trajectory of Canadian women’s football for years to come.
Toronto Sets the Tone
The fireworks began in Toronto. AFC Toronto wasted no time, becoming the first club to strike in the new window with a marquee signing: Sarah Stratigakis. Returning home after spells in France, Sweden, England, and the NCAA, the Canadian international immediately raised the league’s profile. Her résumé, spanning youth World Cups to the SheBelieves Cup, makes her both a local hero and a foundational piece for Toronto’s midfield.
Toronto doubled down days later, securing Zoe Burns, a versatile defender fresh from the NWSL’s Utah Royals. With leadership experience from USC and professional chops from both France and North America, Burns arrives as one of the most promising Canadian defenders of her generation.
The club wasn’t done. Lauren Rowe, a League1 Ontario standout, and Danielle Krzyzaniak, a seasoned goalkeeper with a career that has taken her through Europe and the Champions League, both joined by early August. Together, these signings show Toronto’s intent: blending international experience with domestic rising stars, building a squad that can grow with the league.
Halifax Leans into Star Power
If Toronto brought stability, Halifax opted for flair. Amanda Allen, on loan from the Orlando Pride, might only be 20, but her pace and daring one-on-ones already hint at stardom. She’s joined by the globe-trotting Tiffany Cameron, whose career has taken her across four continents and two national teams. Cameron’s story, embracing authenticity after her vitiligo diagnosis, will resonate as strongly off the pitch as her goals on it.
Halifax didn’t stop there. They added Julianne Vallerand, the fearless Quebecer capable of playing anywhere across the pitch, and Sofia Cedeño, a teenage Panamanian-American playmaker with a game built on creativity and confidence. Together, they form a spine of both grit and artistry that perfectly suits the Tides’ East Coast identity.
Montréal’s Homecomings and Global Reach
For Montréal Roses FC, the transfer window became a story of returns and reinvention. Olivia MBala, after a decade anchoring French defenses, came back to Canada as a steadying veteran presence. Soon after, local product Chloe Minas returned from Sweden, embodying the Roses’ mission to connect Montréal’s diaspora of footballing talent back to its home base.
The Roses also secured one of the window’s most intriguing signings: Chaerim Kang, nicknamed “Rimbappé,” a South Korean international whose explosive pace and flair for the spectacular make her an instant fan favorite.
The movement wasn’t only inbound. Early in the window, Latifah Abdu, who began the season in Montréal, transferred west to Vancouver Rise FC, a reminder that in this new era of NSL football, mobility is part of the league’s lifeblood.
Vancouver’s International Eye
Vancouver Rise FC took a measured approach to the midseason window, focusing on proven international quality to complement their existing squad. Yuka Okamoto, a defender with over 100 professional appearances in Japan’s WE League, brings both calmness and tactical intelligence to their back line. In August, they further strengthened midfield creativity with Anna Bout, a Cambridge native whose European seasoning in Denmark dovetails with her NCAA pedigree.
With Abdu also joining from Montréal, Vancouver boasts both international polish and Canadian connection; elements that will be key as they push for postseason contention.
Calgary Goes Bold
If Toronto set the tone and Halifax grabbed the spotlight, Calgary Wild FC went for sheer firepower. In July alone, they announced two forwards: Jorian Baucom, an American goal-scorer with experience in the NWSL and Europe, and Kathryn Harvey, a Coquitlam native who built her reputation across Denmark and Australia.
They weren’t done. Calgary layered in defensive solidity with Venezuelan international Michelle Romero, then doubled down in goal with the signing of Laurence Gladu, one of Canada’s brightest young keepers. Gladu arrived alongside Andersen Williams, a local talent fresh out of Texas A&M whose signing underlined Calgary’s commitment to both homegrown pathways and global ambition.
By August, the Wild had rebuilt nearly every line of their team, attack, defense, and goal, signalling that the Stampede City isn’t slowing down any time soon.
Ottawa Adds Last Line of Defense
Ottawa Rapid FC may have made just one move, but it was a critical one: goalkeeper Kelly Chiavaro, who brings professional experience from Italy, Brazil, and beyond. A fearless presence with international versatility, she adds composure and leadership as Ottawa chases a strong second half.
The Bigger Picture
Individually, these signings are impressive. Collectively, they tell the story of a league that has come of age in record time. Within weeks, Canadian internationals returned from Europe, NWSL stars crossed the border, teenagers jumped from youth stardom to professional promise, and veterans brought decades of wisdom home.
The NSL’s first-ever midseason transfer period was fundamentally about redefining what’s possible. For Canadian fans and future players, it was a promise fulfilled: world-class talent competing not abroad, but here, at home.
And now, with the playoff race tightening and the NSL Final looming in November 2025, these new faces will play decisive roles. Every signing could prove the difference between lifting the league’s first championship trophy or watching from the sidelines. One thing is certain: the legacy of this inaugural trade window will echo long beyond its closing day.