MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact announced on Friday the acquisition of Canadian International midfielder Issey Nakajima-Farran along with an undisclosed amount of allocation money, from Toronto FC, in exchange for midfielder Collen Warner.
Nakajima-Farran, 30, has played professionally on four continents since 2003. Originally from Calgary, Alberta, Nakajima-Farran returned to Canadian soil with TFC on March 28.
Issey Nakajima-Farran
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5’10
Weight: 160 lbs.
Date of birth: May 16, 1984, Calgary, AB
Nationality: Canada
Previous club: Toronto FC (MLS)
Acquired: May 16, 2014
In MLS, he’s scored two goals in five games played this season, including two starts in 235 minutes. He’s also taken part in two games with TFC in the Amway Canadian Championship, scoring the game winning penalty kick against Vancouver Wednesday night to help TFC advance to the final.
At the international level, Nakajima-Farran scored one goal in 30 appearances with the Canadian National Team, taking part in the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2007, 2009 and 2013, as well as World Cup qualifiers in 2008.
“We’d like to thank Collen for everything he did both on and off the field during his time with the Impact and we wish him well moving forward,” said Impact head coach Frank Klopas. “We are very pleased to be able to add Issey Nakajima-Farran to our roster. He is a player whose qualities will fit well within our group and style of play. We feel his experience with both the national team and abroad will benefit our team.”
Nakajima-Farran played in the Japanese first division with Albirex Niigata in 2003, and then Albirex Singapore for the next two seasons, where he was named the Singapore league’s Young MVP in 2005.
He then played in the first and second division in Denmark, helping Vejle earn promotion to the Superligaen in 2007, before donning the colours of FC Nordsjælland for two seasons, including one alongside Impact captain Patrice Bernier. He played in one UEFA Cup game against Olympiakos of Greece.
Following a stop with AC Horsens from 2009 to 2011, where he again helped his team earn promotion to the top flight, Nakajima-Farran joined the Brisbane Roar of the Australian A-League, scoring four times to go along with one assist in 23 games. He also played in the first and second divisions in Cyprus in 2012 and 2013, before a stint with RWDM Brussels FC of the Belgian second division.
