The Montreal Impact announced the acquisition of Canadian defender Zachary Brault-Guillard on loan from French side Olympique Lyonnais for the 2019 season.
The 20-year-old has captained Lyon's reserve squad since August 2018. He also wore the armband while playing on the club's Under-19 team.
"Zachary will reinforce the Impact's defensive unit. He's a young Franco-Quebecois who grew up humanly and sportingly within Olympique Lyonnais' youth teams," Impact head coach Remi Garde said in a statement Tuesday. "He's a defensive fullback who has potential to progress through daily contact with the Impact's other professional players. I would like to welcome him to the club."
Born in Haiti and raised in Montreal, Brault-Guillard debuted with Canada's national team in 2018 and appeared in two matches.
The Impact open the MLS season on March 2 on the road against the San Jose Earthquakes.
Meanwhile, the Vancouver Whitecaps have mutually agreed to part ways with veteran defender Marcel de Jong.
"We are thankful to Marcel for his contributions," Whitecaps head coach Marc Dos Santos said Monday in a team statement. "He has served this club professionally and we wish him well in the future. The move allows Marcel to explore other opportunities, while we continue to make changes to our roster in preparation for the upcoming season."
De Jong, 32, spent three seasons in Vancouver after breaking into the MLS in 2015 with Sporting KC.
The fullback has one goal and five assists in 52 career MLS regular-season appearances.
De Jong has also earned 56 caps and scored three goals with the Canadian national team since 2007.
As part of the contract termination, a portion of De Jong's contract will remain on the 2019 salary budget for Vancouver.
The Whitecaps open the 2019 MLS season at home against Minnesota United on March 2.
