Sam Salter, the CPL’s leading scorer, signs pre-contract to join Swedish club GAIS

By Canadian Press on October 8, 2025.

OTTAWA — Atletico Ottawa striker Sam Salter, the leading scorer in the Canadian Premier League, has signed a pre-contract to join Sweden’s top-tier team GAIS in January.

Salter’s contract with Ottawa expires at the end of the 2025 CPL season.

“It’s never easy to anticipate a player moving on, but we’re proud to see Sam take this next step in his career,” Ottawa chief executive officer Manuel Vega said in a statement. “He represents everything we want Atletico Ottawa to stand for — professionalism, discipline and resilience. Whenever there’s a challenge, Sam finds a way to overcome it.”

Salter joined Ottawa from Halifax Wanderers in February 2023 in the CPL’s first paid intra-league transfer.

The 25-year-old from Laval, Que., has 19 goals in 26 CPL games this season, eight goals more than any other player. Along the way he has erased the previous league record for goals in a regular season set by former Halifax teammate João Morelli, who scored 14 in 2021.

Salter’s 23 goal contributions, including four assists, is also a CPL regular-season record.

Salter, who has scored a club-record 35 goals in all competitions since joining Ottawa, calls it “a bittersweet moment.”

“I’m leaving a place that has become my home away from home, but it’s also one of immense joy and pride,” he said. “GAIS is an excellent team, really competitive, with a track record of supporting the growth of players they bring in. I’m excited to build on the progress I’ve made following the best season of my career.”

GAIS (12-5-9) currently sits third in the Allsvenskan, Sweden’s top tier. The Goteborg-based club is also home to former Atletico Ottawa defender Matteo de Brienne.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 8, 2025

The Canadian Press