Montreal signs teen talent Tabla

The signing of a Canadian teenager ordinarily wouldn't merit much coverage, but Montreal Impact winger Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla isn't ordinary.

Reportedly coveted by European giants Arsenal, Manchester City, and Chelsea, Tabla has put pen to paper on a two-year contract as an MLS Homegrown Player, the club announced Thursday.

Tabla, 17, will start his first-team spell next season after a 10-day camp with Serie A side Bologna in November. Impact owner Joey Saputo became the Italian club's primary shareholder in September 2014.

"We are very happy to have finalized the signing of Ballou, a young player who did very well with FC Montreal this past year and showed that he deserved to join the first team," Impact technical director Adam Braz said.

"He is an exciting attacking player who has strong technical abilities and is able to be creative and dynamic in the final third. We look forward to seeing him evolve and progress with the first team."

Born in the Ivory Coast, Tabla moved to Quebec as a child and joined the Impact's youth setup in 2012 before eventually making his USL debut this season. In 21 matches with the club's second team, the pacey winger has five goals and five assists.

Pegged as one of a prodigious generation of Canadian teens, Tabla, alongside the likes of Vancouver's Alphonso Davies, marks a period of optimism for a nation whose football successes are few and far between.