GIACOMO VRIONI: CF Montreal Attacker #17 – The Goal-Scoring Espresso Machine CF Montréal Didn’t Know It Needed
You’ve got a new name to keep an eye on in CF Montréal’s attack. Giacomo Vrioni, now wearing number 17, brings a real scoring pedigree and some serious top-flight European experience.
He arrives from the New England Revolution, and honestly, that feels like Montréal’s way of saying they’re ready to get sharper up front.
Vrioni grew up in Italy’s competitive football world, spending time with Juventus and bouncing around on loan. Those moves tested him in different leagues and systems.
He led Austria’s Bundesliga in goals with WSG Tirol before heading to MLS. Once here, he showed he could finish in league matches, the Leagues Cup, and even continental games. His journey from the Sampdoria Academy to Montréal? Definitely not your usual path.
When you watch Vrioni, you’re seeing someone shaped by technical drills in Italy, physical battles in Austria, and a tactical education in North America. Montréal picked him up for $50,000 in General Allocation Money, as CF Montréal details. That might turn out to be one of the cleverest roster moves in MLS this season.
The real question isn’t whether he’ll score—it’s just how much he’ll change Montréal’s whole attacking vibe.
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Giacomo Vrioni’s Transfer to CF Montréal
CF Montréal brought in a proven scorer when they grabbed Giacomo Vrioni from the New England Revolution. He comes in with both MLS and European experience.
This move also involves some salary and roster details that’ll shape Montréal’s plans for a while.
Transfer Details and General Allocation Money
Montréal pulled off the deal for Vrioni on January 7, 2025, sending $50,000 in 2025 General Allocation Money (GAM) to New England. GAM lets MLS teams get creative—reducing a player’s budget charge or bringing in new talent without busting the salary cap.
New England kept a chunk of Vrioni’s 2025 salary. They also secured a cut of any future transfer fee if Montréal sells him abroad. That kind of sell-on clause pops up often in MLS trades for big-value players.
Vrioni landed in MLS in 2022 from Juventus, after he’d impressed on loan in Austria. In New England, he played 67 league games, scored 16 goals, and chipped in 3 assists.
Key Trade Facts
| Date | From | To | Compensation | Extra Terms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 7, 2025 | New England Revolution | CF Montréal | $50,000 GAM | Salary share, sell-on % |
Designated Player Status and Contract Terms
Vrioni joins Montréal as a Designated Player (DP). That means his salary cap hit goes over the league’s max budget charge, thanks to the DP rule.
The DP rule lets clubs sign pricier players without having their full wages count against the cap.
CF Montréal President and CEO Gabriel Gervais called Vrioni a left-footed striker with sharp off-ball movement. At 26, he’s hitting his prime and should stick around through at least 2025, though nobody’s sharing exact contract details yet.
Since New England is still paying part of his salary, Montréal gets some breathing room. That setup lets them put money into other roster spots and still field a high-impact forward.
Vrioni’s history features time with Sampdoria’s academy, loans in Serie B, and a Golden Boot season in Austria.
Role in CF Montréal’s Squad
Vrioni is set to play as the main striker in Montréal’s front three. His finishing, plus his size—6’2” and 187 lbs—gives Montréal a real target in the box.
Gervais mentioned his knack for breaking defensive lines and linking up with midfielders. That fits Montréal’s style, which leans on quick passing and movement.
With his MLS résumé—goals in the Leagues Cup and Concacaf Champions Cup—Vrioni’s ready to make an impact right away. His international experience with Albania brings extra calm when things get tense.
If he settles in fast, you’ll see him as a regular starter in the #17 shirt, leading Montréal’s line in 2025. For more details, check out CF Montréal’s official announcement.
Player Profile: Giacomo Vrioni
Vrioni gives you a forward who mixes European academy training with proven scoring in different leagues. His career path shows he can adapt, and his stats back up his ability to produce just about anywhere.
Playing Position and Style
You’ll usually spot Vrioni as a central striker, working in the final third. At CF Montréal, he’s in a role that demands hold-up play and quick finishing.
His movement off the ball opens up space for wingers and attacking mids.
He came through the Sampdoria Academy and played for teams in Italy, Austria, and the US. That background gives him tactical discipline and a physical edge.
Vrioni likes to position himself between defenders, timing his runs for crosses or through balls. He can drop deeper to link play, but he’d rather stay high and stretch the back line.
His style fits systems that want direct attacking transitions.
Strengths and Skills as a Striker
You’ll notice he can finish with both feet and his head. Vrioni scored 19 goals in the 2021-22 Austrian Bundesliga, winning the top scorer award with WSG Tirol.
That’s some serious consistency in front of goal.
He uses his 6’2″ frame to shield the ball and win aerial duels. He’s a target for long balls and set pieces.
When he’s in the box, he stays calm and puts away chances under pressure.
Vrioni combines well with teammates. He’s good for short passes, quick layoffs, and one-touch finishes.
He’s not the fastest guy out there, but his timing and positioning usually make up for it.
Career Stats (Club Level)
| Competition | Matches | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| MLS Regular Season | 67 | 16 | 3 |
| Leagues Cup | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Concacaf Champions Cup | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| MLS Cup Playoffs | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Jersey Number and On-Field Presence
You’ll see Vrioni wearing jersey number 17 for CF Montréal. That number’s stuck with him lately and feels like part of his brand now.
On the pitch, he’s vocal—always talking to teammates and helping with positioning in attack.
His presence is physical but measured. He uses his strength to hold off defenders without picking up silly fouls.
Vrioni’s height makes him a natural target in the attack. Expect him to battle for most aerial balls in the final third.
On set pieces, defenders often have to double up on him, just to keep him quiet.
Career Journey and Previous Clubs
Vrioni’s career has taken him through leagues in Europe and North America, with each stop adding something new to his game. He’s spent time in Italy’s lower leagues, had a spell with Juventus in Serie A, broke out in Austria, and then found his feet in MLS before landing in Montreal.
Early Career in Italy and Europe
Vrioni grew up in San Severino Marche, Italy, and started out at the Sampdoria Academy. He got his first taste of pro football with SS Matelica Calcio in 2014.
By 2017, he was back at Sampdoria. Instead of settling, he went out on loan—first to FC Pistoiese in Serie C, then Venezia FC in Serie B, and later AS Cittadella.
Those moves gave him real minutes against experienced pros.
His early years were all about learning to adapt to new systems and physical styles. That variety built the base for his later success.
Juventus and Serie A Experience
In 2019, Juventus picked up Vrioni. That put him in one of Italy’s biggest clubs.
He mostly played with Juventus U23 in Serie C, but the training level was a step up.
He was part of the squad during the 2019–20 Serie A title run, even if first-team minutes were hard to come by. Competing with established stars made things tough, but it helped him grow tactically.
Even without regular Serie A action, his time at Juventus mattered. You could see his movement and finishing improve—a foundation for what came next.
WSG Tirol and Austrian Bundesliga Success
Vrioni’s loan to WSG Tirol in Austria for 2021–22 changed everything. In the Austrian Bundesliga, he scored steadily and finished as the league’s top scorer with 19 goals.
Austrian Bundesliga 2021–22 – Key Stats
| Matches | Goals | Assists | Minutes Played |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | 19 | 4 | 2,400+ |
He thrived in a system that let him find space and finish quickly. That run caught the eye of MLS clubs and set up his next move.
MLS Stint with New England Revolution
In July 2022, Vrioni joined the New England Revolution. Over three seasons, he played 67 regular-season matches, scored 16 goals, and added 3 assists.
He also made an impact in cup competitions, with 3 goals in the Leagues Cup and 3 goals plus 2 assists in the Concacaf Champions Cup.
Sometimes he started, sometimes he came off the bench, but he always gave New England a reliable option up front.
Coming from Europe, he blended technical skills with MLS’s physical demands. That mix helped him settle in and eventually led to his trade to CF Montréal in January 2025, where he now wears number 17.
Impact at New England Revolution
Giacomo Vrioni’s stint with the New England Revolution brought steady production, some flexibility up front, and flashes of real quality in front of goal.
He carried the expectations that come with being a Designated Player. Even if his numbers didn’t light up the league, his presence definitely influenced how the club built its attack and shaped its roster.
Performance and Statistics
Vrioni arrived in Foxborough from Juventus with a résumé that hinted at technical skill and clever movement. Over 67 MLS matches, he put away 16 goals and chipped in 3 assists, leading the team with 9 goals in 2024.
He scored in bunches, not really stringing together long scoring streaks, which made it tough for him to fully claim the attack as his own. Still, his left foot and knack for finding space gave Bruce Arena and later Caleb Porter a solid option up front.
MLS Regular Season Stats with New England Revolution
| Season | Matches | Goals | Assists | Minutes Played |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 31 | 7 | 1 | 1,950 |
| 2024 | 36 | 9 | 2 | 2,420 |
| Total | 67 | 16 | 3 | 4,370 |
He worked hard off the ball, and even though people didn’t always notice, he helped the team’s pressing and transitions.
Transfer Impact on Team Roster
When a team moves a Designated Player, they get a big chance to rebuild the roster. Vrioni’s trade to CF Montréal for $50,000 in 2025 General Allocation Money, as Seth Macomber reported, opened up one of the Revolution’s top DP slots.
New England kept part of his 2025 salary and grabbed a cut of any future transfer fee. That move gave the front office quick cap relief and some long-term upside.
The club wasted no time shifting to an offensive rebuild. They added Leo Campana and chased Ignatius Ganago. With Carles Gil and Tomás Chancalay running the show, the open DP spot let the Revs look for another big-time attacker to fit alongside their core.
Key Matches and Contributions
Vrioni’s best games usually featured goals that swung the result. His 79th-minute goal against CF Montréal—yeah, the one that pushed the score to 4-0—really put the game to bed at Gillette Stadium.
He came through in tight matches too, scoring winners and giving the midfield a break with his hold-up play. Even though he wasn’t racking up assists, his ability to pull defenders around opened up space for the wingers and midfielders.
When he didn’t score, his movement in the box still forced defenders to adjust. That impact didn’t always show up in the stats, but it shaped how the Revolution attacked while he was there.
CF Montréal’s Attacking Evolution
CF Montréal’s front line has shifted to younger, quicker players who can press high and link play on the move. Now, you see a blend of technical skill and physicality, built to handle all kinds of matchups.
Replacing Josef Martínez and Matías Cóccaro
With Josef Martínez and Matías Cóccaro gone, the team needs new arrivals to step up and score. Giacomo Vrioni, fresh from New England with 16 MLS goals, comes in as a DP bringing size and a solid finish.
Vrioni grew up in the Sampdoria Academy, and he’s got a different style than Martínez’s poaching or Cóccaro’s aerial game. He moves well off the ball and links up with midfielders, giving the attack more variety.
| Player | 2024 MLS Goals | 2024 Assists | Minutes Played |
|---|---|---|---|
| Josef Martínez | 7 | 2 | 1,420 |
| Matías Cóccaro | 9 | 1 | 2,010 |
| Giacomo Vrioni* | 6 | 2 | 1,580 |
*Stats with New England Revolution
Replacing two starters means the group has to find new chemistry. It’s not just about changing names—it’s about changing how the team builds attacks from the front.
Partnerships with Leo Campana and Other Forwards
Leo Campana holds up play and brings teammates into the attack, making him a natural fit with Vrioni. Vrioni might drift wide while Campana keeps defenders busy, opening space for midfield runners.
There are also younger forwards who can stretch defenses with their speed. That lets the team rotate and keep up the pressing game Laurent Courtois wants.
In a two-striker setup, Vrioni likes to drop deeper, which works well with Campana’s nose for the box. If they play with one up top, Campana can come off the bench and shake things up.
Laurent Courtois’ Tactical Approach
Laurent Courtois wants his strikers to move fluidly in the final third, pressing, combining, and finishing. Vrioni will need to start the press high and then get into good attacking spots quickly.
Courtois likes forwards who can swap roles mid-game. Sometimes Vrioni will start in the middle, then drift out wide to overload a side.
The idea is to keep opponents off balance. With all the positional switches and quick passes, Courtois keeps the attack unpredictable for the full 90.
International Career and Recognition
Giacomo Vrioni’s career mixes his Italian roots with his Albanian identity. His time in Europe gave him technical chops, while his international choices shaped his career path.
Albanian National Team Involvement
Born in San Severino Marche, Italy, to Albanian parents, Vrioni first played for Italy’s U18 and U19 teams in 2016. In 2018, he switched to Albania’s U21 squad.
That same year, he made his senior debut for Albania on October 14, 2018, in a UEFA Nations League match against Israel. The Albanian federation wanted players with European top-flight experience, and Vrioni fit the bill.
He got called up while playing for Juventus U23 and WSG Tirol, where his Austrian league form caught the national team’s eye. Sometimes he started, sometimes he came off the bench, so he’s shown he can handle different roles in big matches.
| Year | Team Level | Matches | Goals | Competition Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Italy U18 | 2 | 0 | Friendlies |
| 2016 | Italy U19 | 3 | 0 | Friendlies |
| 2018 | Albania U21 | 2 | 0 | Qualifiers |
| 2018– | Albania | 10+ | 0 | Nations League, Qualifiers |
Achievements and Notable Awards
You can’t just measure Vrioni’s recognition by his caps—look at the honors he’s picked up during his club career in Europe. While he played on loan at WSG Tirol in Austria, he snagged the Austrian Bundesliga Golden Boot in 2021–22 by scoring 19 goals. That really boosted his international profile.
His spell with Juventus brought team success too. He joined the squad that won the 2019–20 Serie A title, though he mostly played with the U23 side.
These achievements helped raise his value as a Designated Player in MLS with CF Montréal. They also gave Albania a striker who’s shown he can score in several European leagues, like Italy’s Serie B and Austria’s top flight.
Starting out at SS Matelica Calcio, Vrioni’s journey to these honors shows steady growth rather than a sudden leap.
