The Wanderers Notebook: New signings, pre-season wins and a trip to Marbella
It's hard to believe that the Wanderers are less than a month out from the start of their 2026 Canadian Premier League (CPL) season. A trip to British Columbia, and a new-look Vancouver FC, awaits on April 4.
But the Wanderers look different, too.
They sported new black and blue Hummel kits (with a wicked collar, no less) in a pre-season friendly versus Dalhousie University on Friday, showcasing both their threads and several off-season additions ranging from former Crystal Palace man Victor Akinwale to towering centre-back Finn Linder.
Now, the Wanderers are preparing to board a flight for Spain and a two week camp at the renowned Marbella Training Centre. It's expected, at least in the next couple days, they'll also have some new signings to announce.
So, without further ado, here's all the news and notes I've heard about the Wanderers as they prepare to fly across the Atlantic.
Rounding out the roster
Make no mistake: on paper, the Wanderers have been short for a while.
The club kicked off training camp last month with 17 players under contract but rounded out those numbers with academy players and trialists. They announced the signing of Akinwale on February 25, solving their No. 9 mystery while bringing the total to 18 as they navigated other options.
Now, with the season closing in, the club is starting to make some final decisions.
Sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the club is nearing the completion of three signings.
The first involves the signing of goalkeeper Sinclair Astridge, who has been present throughout training camp. The 6-foot-4 (195 cm) 'keeper previously featured prominently for the Wanderers development squad and played during last year's International Summer Series versus Wrexham AFC.
What's interesting about Astridge's signing, said sources, is he's signing a Standard Player Contract (SPC) despite still being eligible for a U-Sports deal. Following the signing of Cavalry FC legend Marco Carducci, there was never any doubt this season who would be the first choice 'keeper.
Josh Healey
However, with the departure of Aiden Rushenas, an opportunity opened up for Astridge to solidify his spot as the back up, which he's grabbed over the last few weeks. By signing a SPC, Astridge can stay with the club through to the end of the season versus going back to school in September.
Another name: the Wanderers are working to finalize a loan for Whitecaps 2 striker Cyprian Kachwele.
Kachwele, 21, is a tall Tanzanian forward (6-foot-3 / 192 cm) who is looking for minutes following two solid seasons in MLS Next Pro. He's bagged 11 goals and four assists across 2,066 minutes and made his MLS debut for the Whitecaps in 2024. But like many before him, he's looking for the opportunity to play.
There's also a third player the club is in talks with to sign but aside from them being young, the details remain murky.
Getting going in pre-season
The Wanderers have been steady this pre-season, avoiding much of the travel and injuries which plagued their preparation for 2024.
They completed the second of two friendlies versus Atlantic University Sport (AUS) opponents on Friday, beating Dalhousie University 5-0 in front of a crowd at the BMO Soccer Centre in Halifax. They also previously beat St. Francis Xavier's squad 5-0 in a closed door friendly.
Frenchman Jason Bahamboula, who is entering his second season with the Wanderers, continued his trend of scoring buckets of goals in pre-season, tucking three behind the Dalhousie 'keeper. He scored a half-dozen last year in pre-season so it will be interesting to see if the speedy French winger (who slotted in as a No.9 on Friday) can carry that momentum into Spain and, eventually, the Vancouver match.
Isaiah Johnston also scored on Friday, delivering the kind of balanced performance supporters have come to expect from the Ontario-born midfielder. For many, Johnston was considered Halifax's most consistent player in 2025 so it'll be interesting to see if he can continue to build on a strong first season on the East Coast. There's no doubt, of course, that the fee the Wanderers paid to acquire the then 23-year old from Loudoun United FC was worth it.
Josh Healey
It was also important for Akinwale to get on the board versus Dalhousie. The 21-year old attacker recently said in an interview with Wanderers Weekly, a weekly show produced by the club, that it's the first time he'll have signed outside of London, England. Getting to feel the ball, and put it in the back of the net regardless of the opponent, can only be good for Akinwale.
A note about Akinwale's goal: he scored it from close to goal, positioned near the back post. Look for the Englishman to score similar goals this year: part of the chatter about his style of play is that he converts in similar areas to former Wanderer Tiago Coimbra, albeit without the aerial ability.
Also, given the introduction of Arsène Wenger's daylight offside rule, it wouldn't surprise for Akinwale to score a few goals sitting on the hips of defenders and then burning them with his speed.
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Cover Photo Credit: Halifax Wanderers FC
