Canadian international back in Montreal
MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact announced Wednesday the acquisition of Homegrown midfielder Ballou Tabla on loan from FC Barcelona, for a six-month period, until the end of the 2019 season.
"I'm very happy to welcome Ballou to the club that saw him grow," said Impact head coach Rémi Garde. "The opportunity with Barcelona and his desire to return to Montreal came up very recently. No need to talk of his quality, since it's in front of the supporters that Ballou revealed his ability. I hope he can seize this short opportunity until the end of the season to renew his career."
He joined FC Barcelona B, in Spain’s second division, in 2018, following his transfer from the Impact on January 25, 2018.
He played 31 games with the Catalan club, including one with FC Barcelona U19 in the UEFA U19 Championship, scoring three goals and adding two assists. In the winter of 2019, he was loaned out to Albacete Balompié, in Spain’s second division, where he played two games.
Tabla had played a season with the Impact in MLS, in 2017, scoring two goals and two assists in 21 games, including 11 starts and 1,146 minutes. He became the youngest Impact player to take part in an MLS game aged 17 years and 338 days on Saturday, March 4, 2017, in San Jose.
He had joined the Academy a first time in 2012. He then played with the Impact U18 in 2015, before joining FC Montreal (USL) in 2016. He played his youth soccer with the Pointe-aux-Trembles Jets and amateur club CS Panellinios.
Transaction: the Montreal Impact acquires Ballou Tabla from Spanish club FC Barcelona on loan for a six-month period.
BALLOU TABLA
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 154 lbs
Date of birth: March 31, 1999, Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Citizenship: Canadian
Last club: FC Barcelona
Acquired on: August 7, 2019
