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Impact re-acquires Ballou Tabla in transfer from Barcelona

"Now it's up to him to do everything and bounce back," Impact sporting director Olivier Renard said of the 20-year-old midfielder.

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The Montreal Impact re-acquired midfielder Ballou Tabla from Spanish club FC Barcelona, coming to terms on a two-year contract with two option years, the MLS club announced on Wednesday.

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“We are happy to have Ballou back with us following this transfer,” Impact sporting director Olivier Renard said. “The talent of this young Quebecer was never put into question. Now it’s up to him to do everything and bounce back.”

Tabla, 20, an Ivory Coast native who grew up in Montreal, joined the Impact on loan on Aug. 7, after being transferred to Barcelona B in January 2018. He then played four MLS games, including one start.

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Montreal Impact ‘s Ballou Tabla celebrates after scoring a goal against the Chicago Fire on April 1, 2017, in Bridgeview, Ill.
Montreal Impact ‘s Ballou Tabla celebrates after scoring a goal against the Chicago Fire on April 1, 2017, in Bridgeview, Ill. Photo by Jon Durr /Bongarts/Getty Images

In 2017, in his first year in MLS, he played 21 games, including 11 starts, scoring two goals and adding two assists. He became the Impact’s youngest player to take part in an MLS game at the age of 17 years and 338 days on March 4, 2017, in San Jose.

With the Catalan club’s reserve squad, he played 30 games, in addition to playing a game with FC Barcelona U19s in the U19 UEFA Championship, scoring three goals and adding two assists. Last winter, he was sent on loan to Albacete Balompié, in Spain’s second division, where he played two games.

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