MENU
‘Exciting young player:’ Wanderers sign Tavio Ciccarelli to Exceptional Young Talent contract
May 31, 2024

The Halifax Wanderers have signed teenage Canadian forward Tavio Ciccarelli to an Exceptional Young Talent contract through the 2026 CPL season with a club option for 2027. Ciccarelli’s registration is pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate (ITC) in July.

Ciccarelli, 17, joins the Wanderers after two seasons at Sheffield United, featuring for the club’s U18 and U21 teams. With Sheffield, Ciccarelli found the back of the net on several occasions and finished the 2023-24 English season with a goal in his club’s season finale. The striker also spent time in the youth setup at Leeds United.

“Tavio is coming here with a lot of energy and ability along with being driven and hungry to succeed,” Wanderers head coach Patrice Gheisar said. “He’s an exciting young player and we have a great group in regards to helping young players, so we think he’s a player we can help grow and he can bring something to the team as well.”

From Winnipeg, Manitoba, Ciccarelli was a key member of Canada’s men’s under-20 national team during CONCACAF U-20 Championship qualifying in February. In Canada’s match against Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Ciccarelli scored a hat-trick and assisted on the other goal in a 4-0 victory for the Canadians.

“I’m really excited to come back home to Canada and play for the Wanderers,” Ciccarelli said. “I’ve heard positive things about the club, and one thing that stood out to me was the fans: loud and passionate, pushing the players on. Fans can expect a player who likes to take opposition players on to create plays and goals.”

The Exceptional Young Talent designation, implemented in 2023, allows a CPL Club to sign up to two additional Under-18 domestic players to Standard Player Contracts outside of its 23-man Primary Roster. A player designated Exceptional Young Talent is eligible to remain in the category up to and including the year he turns 21 years old. For the 2024 League Season, new players signed under this designation must be born Jan. 1, 2006, or later to be eligible to be signed as an Exceptional Young Talent Player.

“Tavio is a promising young Canadian player who we believe has a bright future in the game,” sporting director Matt Fegan said. “This signing continues our philosophy to invest in emerging Canadian talent and shows a long-term commitment with a multi-year development plan for Tavio. He arrives with excellent references from his academies, particularly his coaches at Sheffield United and the Canadian national team. We’re delighted he will continue his development with us in Halifax.”

Ciccarelli comes to Halifax hungry to earn a spot on Canada’s roster for the CONCACAF U-20 Championship as the country aims to qualify for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile.

Full Name: Tavio Ciccarelli

Age: 17

Position: Forward

Height: 5’8”

Birth Date: July 24, 2006

Birthplace: Winnipeg, Manitoba

Nationality: Canadian

Last Club: Sheffield United (England)