Marie-Yasmine Alidou didn’t think she’d ever play professionally in front of her friends and family in Montreal, but that is now the reality for the Canadian women’s national team midfielder.

Alidou signed with the Northern Super League’s Montreal Roses last week, bringing the 31-year-old home to play professionally in Canada for the first time. Alidou had stints in the United States, Portugal, Austria, Norway, Spain, Sweden and France before coming back north of the border after departing the Portland Thorns.

She could make her debut for the club as soon as July 23, when Montreal hosts AFC Toronto.

Toronto recently announced the acquisitions of Alidou’s national team teammates Shelina Zadorsky and Sabrina D’Angelo, who could also debut in that match, which comes days after the transfer window officially opens. France international defender Ève Perisset also signed for Montreal on the same day as Alidou, but has since suffered an injury that will delay her own debut with the club.

Related Reading: Sabrina D’Angelo, Shelina Zadorsky ‘elevate’ AFC Toronto with CanWNT experience, standards

Alidou will look to be the creative spark for a Montreal side that sits second in the table on 21 points from 11 matches, four points back of the red-hot Ottawa Rapid FC.

Elyse Bennett is tied with Ottawa’s DB Pridham, another national team player, on seven goals atop the Golden Boot race, while fellow Roses attacker Tanya Boychuk is right behind them on five. Evelyn Badu has four of her own, so Alidou will be the focal point on a team full of weapons.

“I’m looking to be the creator of plays, either to drive the ball forward, shoot, to assist, to calm the tempo, to speed it up,” Alidou said on CBC ahead of the Roses’ 1-0 win over Halifax on Sunday. “That’s what I’m looking to bring to the team.

“It was in the back of my mind to come back home when I heard that there was a professional team here, so it was eventually gonna come. I chose to come right now, and I think it’s the perfect timing as well to come back in this professional league in Canada and also playing for the Canadian national team. I think it was the right decision for me.”

With the Women’s World Cup next summer and the Olympics in 2028 — potentially Alidou’s final chance to go to either major competition — getting consistent playing time at a high level is crucial as she looks for even more minutes with Casey Stoney’s national team as well.

Courtesy: Audry Magny/Canada Soccer

It was confirmed on Tuesday that more players will have their dreams of playing professionally in Canada come true in 2027.

Winnipeg was announced as the NSL’s first expansion team, and seventh club overall, to begin play next year in the Manitoba capital. Co-founded by CanWNT legend Desiree Scott, the Winnipeg club’s name and home venue have not yet been announced,

Related Reading: Northern Super League announces Winnipeg expansion club for 2027