Joey Saputo Puts CF Montréal Up for Sale After Three Decades of Family Ownership

One of Major League Soccer's founding Canadian families is preparing to step away. CF Montréal chairman Joey Saputo announced on Monday, November 9, that he has launched a structured process to sell the club, ending more than three decades of Saputo family ownership, MLSsoccer.com reported.

For a league whose franchise values have climbed steadily, a club changing hands is always a business story. This one also carries a clear civic condition.

The Announcement

"After more than three decades of commitment, we believe this is the appropriate time to begin the process of identifying new ownership for CF Montréal," Saputo said in the club's statement, as published by MLSsoccer.com.

The family has retained BMO Capital Markets as lead financial adviser and National Bank of Canada Capital Markets as co adviser to manage the sale and identify potential buyers. The process will be run in coordination with MLS, the league said.

A Québec Buyer Is the Priority

The club said its priority is to give "the right Québec based investors" the opportunity to come forward with the resources and commitment to support its long term success. That preference matters in a market where the team is closely tied to local identity.

Saputo said the club is "stable, well positioned and part of a growing league and market." He pointed to a clearer path forward on two projects: a future at the Olympic Stadium and the club's pursuit of Canada Soccer's National Training Centre.

Three Decades of Stewardship

The Saputo family has been involved in professional soccer in Montréal since 1993, guiding the club from its early years to its MLS expansion season in 2012, according to MLSsoccer.com. "This club has been a central part of our lives," Saputo said, thanking supporters whose "passion and loyalty have been at the heart of this club."

Day to day operations will not change during the sale. President and CEO Gabriel Gervais and managing directors Luca Saputo and Simone Saputo will remain in their roles, the club said, and there will be no changes to sporting activities or community work.

The Business Angle

Club sales are rarely quick. A structured process with two major Canadian banks suggests the family wants a broad search and a careful valuation rather than a single private deal. The emphasis on Québec ownership narrows the field, but it may also strengthen the club's standing with local fans, partners and governments.

The timing is also notable. Saputo framed the sale around momentum on stadium and training centre plans. For a buyer, those projects represent both opportunity and commitment: new facilities can raise revenue, but they require patient capital.

There is also a lesson for anyone who studies sports leadership. Owners who built a club over decades often think hard about legacy when they sell. Setting conditions on who can buy, and keeping management in place during the process, are ways to protect what was built while still allowing the club to change hands.

For supporters, the announcement may bring both gratitude and uncertainty. A sale opens the door to new investment and fresh ideas, but it also raises questions about continuity, ticket prices and the club's identity. The emphasis on keeping operations steady during the process appears designed to calm those concerns.

What to Watch

The key questions now are who steps forward, at what price, and whether a Québec based group can meet the club's conditions. No buyer or timeline has been announced.

Whoever buys the club will inherit more than a roster. They will take on a community role built over three decades, and the expectations that come with it.

Legend Magazine will follow the sale as it unfolds, along with the stadium and training centre plans that could shape CF Montréal's next era.