Montreal Impact add Saphir Taider as DP to replace Blerim Dzemaili

The Montreal Impact signed Algeria international midfielder Saphir Taider as a designated player from sister club Bologna on Monday.

Taider, 25, arrives as a replacement for Blerim Dzemaili, who returned to Bologna in Serie A this month after spending last year on loan in Montreal. Both clubs are owned by Joey Saputo.

The Impact said Taider signed 'a three-year deal, including a two-year loan' from Bologna, with Montreal also holding a club option for 2021 if he becomes a permanent player.

'We're very happy to welcome Saphir with our club,' Saputo said. 'He's a very competitive player who has played over 100 games with Bologna FC since 2012. This signing will help the team to reach his goals.'

Taider has played in Serie A for seven seasons, scoring 10 goals and eight assists in 162 league games. Besides his time with Bologna, he also played for Inter Milan, who loaned him to Southampton and Sassuolo.

He has five goals in 42 appearances with Algeria and played at the 2014 World Cup, after previously representing France at youth levels.

Earlier on Monday, the Impact also announced they had signed Chilean attacking midfielder Jeisson Vargas to a one-year deal with options for a further two and a half years.

The 20-year-old scored eight goals with five assists in 40 top-flight games in Chile with club Universidad Catolica, between 2014 and 2017.

He was called up to the Chile national team in 2016 but did not earn his first cap.

The moves come one day after Montreal also signed French center-back Zakaria Diallo from Ligue 2's Brest on a two-year deal.

Source: www.espnfc.com