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CPL Atletico Ottawa

Atlético Ottawa Signs Guyana International and 3x CPL Champion Jonathan Grant

February 16, 2024 - Canadian Premier League (CPL)
Atletico Ottawa News Release


OTTAWA, ON - Atlético Ottawa is delighted to announce the signing of Guyana international and three-time Canadian Premier League (CPL) champion, Jonathan Grant. The versatile defender moves to the nation's capital on a two-year contract.

Grant was a cornerstone of Forge FC's success in the early years of the CPL, featuring 41 times for Head Coach Bobby Smyriniotis as they were crowned CPL Champions in 2019, 2020 and 2022. The 30-year-old represented Canada at the youth level, playing six (6) times for the under-23 program, before committing his senior future to the Guyana National Team where he received his first call-up in 2023 and now has six (6) caps to his name.

"We are delighted to have Jonny Grant in our squad, a player with a great track record and who will give us high levels of defensive reliability," said Carlos González, Head Coach, Atlético Ottawa. "His experience and versatility within the defensive line are aspects of great consideration and fit perfectly with our needs."

Jonathan Grant (middle) with Head Coach Carlos González (left) and CEO Fernando López at TD Place (Credit: Chris Hue / Atlético Ottawa)

In 2023, Grant left the Hamilton-based team to join Ontario rivals York United where he featured 15 times as the Nine Stripes qualified for the playoffs for the first time in club history. The Pickering, ON, native will now have played for all Ontario-based CPL sides when he first steps onto the field for Atlético later this year.

"When I took my decision to join Ottawa, a big factor for me was what I heard about the team we are putting together," said Grant. "We are putting together a special group that can compete for big things. It's important to me how well we can compete. Of course, it keeps me close to home and my family which is crucial and I know a few guys on the team, having played with Max Tissot and played against others over the years."

He added: "I have the feeling of knowing what it's like to win, and that makes you hungry for it again. Any season without the feeling feels like a failure, and it's set the standard of what I want out of each season I play going forward."

More information on Jonathan Grant's early career

Grant began his soccer journey in his hometown of Pickering, Ontario, where he played for his local youth team Wexford SC before joining Sigma FC in League1 Ontario at the age of 15. A spell training with Belgian top-flight side Genk followed before a successful trial period saw Grant side for USL side FC Montréal, the second team of Major League Soccer (MLS) side CF Montreéal (formerly known as Impact Montréal), in 2015.

Later that year Grant moved to Sporting Kansas' second side ahead of the 2016 season. He would play 18 times for Swope Park Rangers, scoring his only goal for the club on his debut. In 2017 the defender returned to Sigma FC and excelled once more under the tutelage of Bobby Smyrniotis as he was named Defender of the Year and First-Team All-Star which earned him a move to Sweden's third division with Nyköpings BIS. An unfortunate injury in pre-season, however, would prevent him from making an appearance for them paving the way back to Canada, and a reunion with Smyrniotis at Forge FC in the first season of the Canadian Premier League.

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