There’s a new centre-back in town.
CF Montréal has signed Argentine defender Tomás “Toto” Avilés on loan from Inter Miami through the 2026 season. The Bleu-blanc-noir hold an option to acquire the player permanently and, as part of the deal, sent a 2026 international roster spot to the reigning MLS Cup champions.
Avilés joined Inter Miami in August 2023, around the same time as Lionel Messi, and went on to win three trophies across three consecutive seasons, most recently lifting MLS Cup. He made 87 appearances for the club, scoring four goals and adding one assist.
“Tomás is a reliable defender in one-on-one situations and has a great first pass,” said CF Montréal's Luca Saputo in a statement. “His understanding of the game and ability to defend while pushing forward give us flexibility, both defensively and in terms of the system the coach wants to implement.”
Avilés has represented both Argentina and Chile at the youth level, most recently featuring for Argentina at the 2023 U-20 World Cup.
Montréal’s league campaign will begin on February 21 away to San Diego, kicking off a six-match road stretch before the club finally returns home on April 11 against Philadelphia.
Over the offseason, the club added defenders Dagur Dan Þórhallsson, Brayan Vera, Josh-Duc Nteziryayo, and Félix Samson — with the latter two promoted from the academy — and signed former Vancouver Whitecaps striker Daniel Ríos. Departures include Tom Pearce and Matías Cóccaro, who did not feature in 2025 after a loan spell with Atlas in Mexico before completing a move to Argentina’s Newell’s Old Boys.
Tomás Avilés est Montréalais 🇦🇷💪
— CF Montréal (@cfmontreal) January 23, 2026
🗞️ Le CF Montréal acquiert Tomás Avilés de l'Inter Miami CF >>> https://t.co/3bNMJ1dJPB
🗞️ CF Montréal acquires Tomás Avilés from Inter Miami CF >>> https://t.co/MU7FMt5X1I#CFMTL pic.twitter.com/teHbKHtSY2
