Joey Saputo begins sale of CF Montréal, relocation possible

Joey Saputo has begun the process of selling CF Montréal, the Major League Soccer club he founded, while leaving open the possibility that a new owner could move it from the city. Saputo said he would prefer local ownership but would not make staying in Montreal a condition of the sale or accept a lower price to secure that outcome.

The sale process will be conducted with MLS and the club’s investment bankers, Saputo said. He did not disclose an asking price or timeline. No buyer has been identified, and the club’s future location has not been determined.

Saputo said the decision was not driven by urgency or by the team’s performance. He described it as a decision to pass the torch after more than three decades with the club, which he founded in 1992 as the Montreal Impact. The franchise joined MLS in 2012.

CF Montréal finished last in the Eastern Conference with six wins, 20 losses and eight draws. The club also lost the Canadian Championship final to Forge FC, a Canadian Premier League team. Supporters boycotted games late in the season as the team struggled, according to reports on the club’s season.

The ownership change comes as the club’s longer-term home arrangements remain...