Breaking: Wanderers complete sale of Tiago Coimbra to IFK Göteborg
The Halifax Wanderers have completed the largest transfer in club history as striker Tiago Coimbra has been sold to IFK Göteborg in Sweden’s top flight, sources told HFX Football Post on Saturday. The move was first reported by this publication last week; Fabrizio Romano was the first to confirm the deal was done.
Coimbra, 22, joins Göteborg following a stellar year which saw him lead his club in scoring, not to mention winning the CPL’s Best Canadian U-21 Player award and making his debut with the Canadian Men’s National Team.
Sources noted Coimbra’s sale is one of the largest in league history, with the Wanderers negotiating a €250,000 fee ($300,000 USD) plus bonuses and sell-ons. There were several clubs interested, said sources, but it came down to Göteborg and the Vancouver Whitecaps, both of whom submitted strong bids.
Coimbra originally joined the Wanderers in 2023 and registered 64 appearances for the club across three seasons. He scored 20 goals while adding five assists.
Now, the Brazilian-Canadian heads to Europe for the next chapter of his career, with fellow CPL graduates Matteo de Brienne and Sam Salter playing for GAIS, which is also in Gothenburg.
Quick analysis
Although the Wanderers may have sold their best scorer in Coimbra, there's no doubt that this sale puts both player and club on the map.
Many other CPL clubs have transferred players overseas or onto higher leagues like MLS. The Wanderers, of course, had previously moved on players like Sam Salter and Callum Watson but nothing on this scale. Coimbra's move to Sweden proves the club's ability to develop and move on a young player while garnering top dollar.
It's also important to note that Coimbra's sale sends a message to other players on the roster and prospective players looking to join. Paired with the addition of head coach and general manager Vanni Sartini, the club's reputation has grown in leaps and bounds over the last several weeks.
The club will inevitably miss Coimbra's threat on set pieces and knack for timely goals. However, it was important for them to show — in both dollars and interest — that they're building something on the East Coast.
Cover Photo Credit: Trevor MacMillan / Halifax Wanderers FC
