Montreal (AFP) – Haitian-born Canada right back Zachary Brault-Guillard was obtained by Major League Soccer’s Montreal Impact on Tuesday on loan from French side Lyon for the 2019 campaign.

The 20-year-old defender, adopted by a Quebec couple and raised in Montreal until age seven before moving to France, has spent time with the Impact in pre-season on a trial basis.

“Zachary will reinforce the Impact’s defensive unit,” coach Remi Garde said. 

He said the young Franco-Quebecois had come up through Lyon’s youth teams.

“He’s a defensive fullback who has potential to progress through daily contact with the Impact’s other professional players.”

Brault-Guillard had captained Lyon’s reserve team since August 2018 and also led the Lyon under-19 squad.

He made his debut for the Canadian national squad last year in a 5-0 home victory over Dominica, entering as a 66th-minute substitute.

Impact finished in seventh place in the MLS’s eastern conference last year and failed to make the end of season playoffs.