It’s already been an eventful year for Canadian midfielder Samuel Piette (above left), and a busy June has just made it a whole lot better.
Fresh off earning his first senior cap for Canada in the 0-0 draw in a friendly against the United States earlier this month, Piette confirmed to MLSsoccer.com on Tuesday that he has signed his first professional contract with Fortuna Düsseldorf, who are returning to the German Bundesliga for the first time since 1997.
Still just 17 years old, Piette got his first taste of Canada’s senior team when he was on the roster but was an unused substitute for February’s friendly against Armenia. He was also a part of the Canadian Under-23 side that was came within one win of qualifying for the 2012 London Olympics back in March.
The deal with Düsseldorf had been expected, but when Piette was with the Canadian team earlier this month, he said it was still being worked on.
Piette had been a member of the FC Metz youth program since 2009 but, due to age restrictions, had been unable to sign a professional contract with them until his 18th birthday.
That rule doesn’t apply in Germany, and Piette, who doesn’t turn 18 until November, made the move to Düsseldorf. He went on trial with the club in February after taking part in his first senior national team camp prior to the friendly against Armenia in Cyprus.
Canadian national team coach Stephen Hart has been clearly impressed with the youngster’s confidence and it seems Düsseldorf is of the same opinion. The Montreal-area native will feature for the same club that welcomed US U-20 starlet Villyan Bijev last season.
Piette is currently on vacation but will join up with his new club prior to the start of the new Bundesliga at the end of August.
