MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact and the New York Red Bulls came to terms on a major transaction on Tuesday. The bleu-blanc-noir acquired Cameroon international left back Ambroise Oyongo, U.S. international midfielder Eric Alexander, allocation money and an international player spot for the 2015 season from the Red Bulls in exchange for midfielder Felipe and the first spot in the MLS allocation ranking.
"It's a trade that helps improve our current roster by adding two quality players, while the allocation money and international spot gives us more flexibility within the salary cap and our roster" said Impact technical director Adam Braz. "The decision to move Felipe was not easy as he`s been with the club since the beginning in MLS. We`d like to thank him for his time with the club over the last few years and we wish him the best of luck in the future.”
Oyongo, 23, amassed three assists in 13 games played, including 11 starts, in his first season in MLS in 2014. He also appeared as a substitute in the first three playoff games, assisted Wright-Phillip’s 90th minute winner in the knockout round win over Sporting KC. He then started and played a full 90 in both legs of the Eastern Conference Championship against New England. He also took part in three CONCACAF Champions League matches.
Originally from Ndikinimeki, Cameroon, he won three championships with Cotonsport FC in Cameroon's first division (2010, 2011, and 2013), as well as the Cameroon Cup in 2011.
At the international level, Oyongo played eight games with the Cameroon senior men's national team, scoring his first goal last January 20 in a 1-1 draw with Mali in the African Cup of Nations. He made his debut on July 28, 2013, against Gabon. He also took part in the FIFA U20 World Cup in 2011.
Alexander, 26, is an American midfielder embarking on his sixth season in MLS. He's scored eight goals and added 20 assists in 137 games played, including 105 starts, totaling almost 9,000 minutes. After having played for both FC Dallas and the Portland Timbers, he played all 34 games in each of the last two seasons with the Red Bulls, amassing a career high of nine assists last season. He's also made nine playoff appearances over his career, including six starts.
At the international level, Alexander was twice called in by the American national team, playing his first match with the USMNT on January 22, 2011 against Chile.
The team is training in Montreal for two weeks before heading to Mexico on February 8, in preparation for the first game of the home and away Champions League series against Mexican club Pachuca, on February 24, at 10pm ET (TVA Sports) in Mexico. The return leg of this important aggregate goal match up will be played on Tuesday, March 3, at Olympic Stadium (tickets: marquonslhistoire.com).
