Michael Adedokun joins CF Montréal in a bold move that could change everything | OneFootball

CF Montréal decided to shake the market with the announcement of the signing of Michael Adedokun, an enviable midfielder who comes with great credentials and a past that promises an immediate impact. Signed until 2025 with the possibility of extending it to 2028, this 22-year-old Nigerian talent was the 13th overall pick in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft.

Adedokun joins the team fresh off winning the 2024 MAC Hermann Trophy, an award given to the best collegiate player in NCAA Division I soccer. He led Ohio State with 11 goals and 11 assists last season, making him the central figure in their 2024 Big Ten Tournament championship.

A long-term bet

Adedokun's contract, possibly up to 2028, shows that CF Montréal has taken a very well-structured path: consolidate the back and bet on young blood that can grow inside the club. Gabriel Gervais, the president and CEO of the club, pointed out that Michael is a "dynamic attacking midfielder" with sharp instincts in front of the net, one-on-one skills, and creativity in the final third.

Complementing his status tactically, Adedokun comes in to fill a gap in the creative midfield. Head coach Laurent Courtois, in his second year in charge, gets a player with the prowess to break the lines and create plays.

Not everything, though, is hunky-dory. College players coming into the MLS have that added pressure of having to transition into an even more physical and competitive level of soccer. While Adedokun has those tools, the sooner he can prove that he can adapt to the professional level without losing himself on the field, the better.

Pressure of being the spotlight player

It's just like being given a giant magnifying glass: everything you do from then on falls under scrutiny. For Adedokun, though, that's the challenge-to manage such pressure. He is now the poster child of a new phase for CF Montréal, a team in search of a place among the protagonists in MLS.

It was a case of CF Montréal needing to prove it can fulfill its promise in the increasingly competitive MLS landscape. Adedokun can be a manifestation of that promise, but immediate pressure is inescapable.

With every investment comes risks, and Adedokun is no different. While his collegiate credentials are impeccable, MLS is a whole different level. There is a question of physical adaptation, the dynamics of a professional league, and of course, the pressure of being one of the key signings of the season.

It is, though, a risk worth taking for CF Montréal since young talents in the increasingly competitive market are some of the intelligent ways to go in building up not just teams of today but teams for the future. If he finds his rhythm, Adedokun will become the creative heartbeat of the team and possibly one of the best midfielders over the coming years.