Sebastian Breza returns to CF Montreal on loan

Sebastian Breza returns to CF Montreal on a loan stint from Italy's Bologna FC for the 2022 Major League Soccer season, the club announced Saturday.

The Canadian MLS club originally declined Brreza’s contract option at season’s end but worked out another loan with the Serie A side. 

“We are happy to have Sebastian back with the team for the upcoming season,” sporting director Olivier Renard said in a statement. “We were pleased with his progress last season, so we wanted him to continue on with us. We opted not to exercise his option, but we remained in close contact with Bologna and his return is confirmed today.”

The player was initially loaned to CF Montreal last April and picked up two clean sheets in eight starts. The 23-year-old was also the club’s starter through their Canadian Championship title run, earning tournament MVP honors after a pair of shutouts in three matches.

Breza is the third goalkeeper listed on the Canadian side’s roster, fighting for playing time against homegrown James Pantemis, who made 18 starts in 2021, and Jonathan Sirois. 

The goalkeeper kicked off his career with Ste-Julie Soccer Club before leaving to join S.S. Monopoli at 16 years old. In 2016, he was loaned to Palermo FC and recorded 54 games with Potenza SC in the Italian third division. Breza joined Bologna FC 1909 in August 2020.

Internationally, Breza has previously been selected by the U20, U21 and U23 Canadian national teams.

CF Montreal returns to action on February 27 against Orlando City SC as the 2022 MLS season starts. The Canadian side will also feature in the 2022 edition of the Concacaf Champions League, beginning on February 15 vs. Liga MX club Santos Laguna.