Sean Rea

Sean Rea
Player standing on the pitch waiting for action to resume
Rea with Valour FC in 2022
Personal information
Date of birth (2002-05-15) May 15, 2002 (age 22)
Place of birth Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 HFX Wanderers
Number 30
Youth career
2006–2013 FC Saint-Léonard
2014–2020 Montreal Impact
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2023 CF Montréal 15 (0)
2021–2022 → Valour FC (loan) 50 (6)
2023 → CF Montréal U23 (loan) 1 (0)
2024 Castellón B 4 (0)
2024– HFX Wanderers 14 (1)
International career‡
2017 Canada U15 4 (1)
2019 Canada U17 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 20, 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of June 27, 2021

Sean Rea (born May 15, 2002) is a Canadian professional soccer player for HFX Wanderers FC in the Canadian Premier League.

Early life

Rea began playing soccer at age four with Saint-Léonard.[1] In 2014, he joined the Montreal Impact Academy.[2][3][4] In January 2020, he traveled to Italy to train with Pescara, and Germany where he spent almost two weeks with Schalke.[5]

Club career

CF Montréal

In December 2020, he signed his first professional contract with the Montreal Impact (later re-named CF Montreal) of Major League Soccer.[6][7] He served as an unused substitute in their CONCACAF Champions League match against C.D. Olimpia on December 15, 2020.

Loans to Valour FC

In April 2021, he went on loan with Valour FC of the Canadian Premier League,[8] after turning down an opportunity to join an Italian Serie C club on loan.[9] On June 27, 2021, Rea made his professional debut for Valour as a starter in the opening match of the season against Forge FC.[10] He scored his first professional goal on August 21, 2021 in a Canadian Championship match against Atlético Ottawa.[11][12] After the 2021 season, CF Montreal picked up his club option for 2022.[13]

In March 2022, he returned to Valour FC on a new loan.[14][15] He was named the CPL Player of the Month for August 2022[16] and was named to the CPL Team of the Week six times, over the course of the season.[17] In his second season with the club, he led the team in minutes played, doubling his amount from the previous season,[18] and set a CPL record with 9 assists.[19][20] He also led the league in chances created (71) and in completed crosses and corners (62).[21] After the season, he was named the 2022 CPL U21 Player of the Year[22][23][24] and was nominated for the league Player of the Year and the Players' Player Award.[25][26]

Return from loan

Rea made his competitive debut for Montreal in their 2023 season-opener against Inter Miami on February 25, entering as a substitute in an eventual 2-0 defeat.[27] He scored his first goal for Montreal on April 18, 2023, in a 2-0 victory over Vaughan Azzurri in the first round of the 2023 Canadian Championship.[28] Upon completion of the 2023 Season, CF Montréal would announce that they would not pick up Rea's contract for 2024, ending his time with the club.[29]

Castellón B

Ahead of the 2024 season, he went on trial with the Portland Timbers.[30] In March 2024, he began training with Spanish club CD Castellón of the Primera Federación, arranging a pre-contract coniditonal upon the club's promotion to the second tier for the next season.[31] He then signed with the second team CD Castellón B in the Tercera Federación for the remainder of the season.[32][33] He made his debut for the second team on March 8 against CF Gandía.[34]

HFX Wanderers

On July 31, 2024, Rea returned to the Canadian Premier League, signing a contract through 2025 with HFX Wanderers.[35][36] There were reports he had a deal in principle with fellow CPL club Atlético Ottawa, however, salary cap constraints prevented the deal from being finalized.[37] He made his debut on August 5 against Vancouver FC.[38]

International career

At international level, Rea is eligible to represent both the Canadian and Italian national teams.[39]

In November 2016, he debuted in the Canadian national program, attending a national U14 camp.[1] In 2017, he was named to the Canada U15 team for the 2017 CONCACAF Boys' Under-15 Championship.[40] He scored his first international goal on August 14 against Costa Rica U15.[1][41] In 2017, Rea was named to the Canada U17 team for the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup.[1]

In May 2023, Rea was listed on the Canada preliminary rosters for the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League Finals.[42]

Personal life

Rea has Italian heritage and is a fan of Serie A club Napoli.[43]

He holds an Italian passport through his grandfather, who emigrated from Italy to Canada.[39]

Career statistics

As of match played March 29, 2024[44]
Club Season League Playoffs Domestic Cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
CF Montréal 2023 Major League Soccer 15 0 0 0 3 1 0 0 18 1
Valour FC (loan) 2021 Canadian Premier League 23 1 – 2 1 – 25 2
2022 27 5 – 1 0 – 28 5
Total 50 6 0 0 3 1 0 0 53 7
CF Montréal U23 (loan) 2023[45] Ligue1 Québec 1 0 — — — 1 0
CD Castellón B 2023–24 Tercera Federación 4 0 — — — 4 0
HFX Wanderers 2024 Canadian Premier League 14 1 — 0 0 — 14 1
Career total 84 7 0 0 6 2 0 0 90 9

Honours

Individual

References

  1. ^ a b c d Sean Rea at the Canadian Soccer Association
  2. ^ Vance, Paul (April 6, 2021). "Rea & Sirois off to Winnipeg". Mount Royal Soccer.
  3. ^ Lévesque, Dave (February 16, 2021). "Sean Rea, un nom à retenir" [Sean Rea, a name to remember]. Le Journal de Montréal (in French).
  4. ^ Montminy, Émeric (September 28, 2021). "Un espoir prometteur rêve au CF Montréal" [A promising prospect dreams of CF Montreal]. Le Journal de Montréal (in French).
  5. ^ "Sean Rea signe chez l'Impact de Montréal" [Sean Rea signs with the Montreal Impact]. OBELISQ (in French). December 4, 2020.
  6. ^ "Montreal Impact promote four young midfielders from academy to first team". Toronto Star. December 4, 2020.
  7. ^ "Jean-Aniel Assi, Sean Rea, Nathan-Dylan Saliba et Rida Zouhir signent avec l'Impact" [Jean-Aniel Assi, Sean Rea, Nathan-Dylan Saliba and Rida Zouhir sign with the Impact]. RDS (in French). December 4, 2020.
  8. ^ Thompson, Marty (April 6, 2021). "Valour FC signs CF Montreal youngsters Sean Rea & Jonathan Sirois on loan". Canadian Premier League.
  9. ^ Nef, Thomas (July 22, 2022). "Pursuing the blue shirt: Of Napoli and Montreal, and Sean Rea's soccer dream". OneSoccer.
  10. ^ Jacques, John (June 27, 2021). "Ricci Leads Valour To First-Ever Win Over Forge". Northern Tribune.
  11. ^ Jacques, John (August 22, 2022). "Valour Edges Atletico Ottawa In Canadian Championship". Northern Tribune.
  12. ^ Tait, Ed (March 11, 2022). ""Moments like that just make you want to have more and that's what I'm hoping for this season." - Rea returns on loan for 2022". Valour FC.
  13. ^ Jacques, John (November 30, 2021). "CF Montreal Exercises Options On All Four Of Its CPL Loanees". Northern Tribune.
  14. ^ O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (March 11, 2022). "Jonathan Sirois & Sean Rea return to Valour on loan from CF Montreal". Canadian Premier League.
  15. ^ Jacques, John (March 11, 2022). "CF Montreal Loans Sirois, Rea To Valour (Again)". Northern Tribune.
  16. ^ "Valour FC's Sean Rea named CPL Player of the Month for August". Canadian Premier League. September 7, 2022.
  17. ^ "Sean Rea Wins Best Canadian U-21 Player". Valour FC. October 28, 2022.
  18. ^ Tremblay, Olivier (January 15, 2023). "Après deux saisons en prêt, Sean Rea veut saisir sa chance au CF Montréal" [After two seasons on loan, Sean Rea wants to seize his chance at CF Montreal]. Ici Radio-Canada Télé (in French).
  19. ^ Tait, Ed (October 28, 2022). "Sean Rea: "I have nothing but great things to say about the city and the organization. I'm just super happy right now."". Valour FC.
  20. ^ Tait, Ed (December 27, 2022). "Stories of the Year | #3 The Magic of Sean Rea". Valour FC.
  21. ^ Tierney, Mitchell (February 23, 2023). "'It really gave me a confidence boost': Sean Rea ready to star for Montreal after standout CPL season". Canadian Premier League.
  22. ^ "Valour FC midfielder Rea named top Under-21 Player". Winnipeg Sun. October 30, 2022.
  23. ^ "Valour FC's Sean Rea wins 2022 Canadian Premier League Best Canadian U-21 Player". Canadian Premier League. October 28, 2022.
  24. ^ "Marco Carducci and Sean Rea honoured at 2022 CPL Awards". Canadian Soccer Association. October 28, 2022.
  25. ^ "Sean Rea Nominated for Player of the Year". Our Sports Central. October 20, 2022.
  26. ^ "Sean Rea Shortlisted for Players' Player of the Year". Our Sports Central. October 24, 2022.
  27. ^ Jacques, John (February 26, 2023). "Four Former CPL Players Who Featured In The MLS Opening Weekend". Northern Tribune.
  28. ^ Rhodes, Benedict (April 18, 2023). "Match Analysis: Vaughan SC hold their own, fall 2-0 to Sean Rea & CF Montréal". Canadian Premier League.
  29. ^ "CF Montréal exercises options on four players for the 2024 season". CF Montréal. December 1, 2023.
  30. ^ Jacques, John (January 23, 2024). "Portland Timbers Taking Sean Rea For Test Drive". Northern Tribune.
  31. ^ Jacques, John (March 4, 2024). "3 Former CPL Players Who Just Landed Elsewhere". Northern Tribune.
  32. ^ "Sean Rea, nuevo jugador del CD Castellón 'B'" [Sean Rea, new player for CD Castellón 'B']. Fundació Albinegra (in Spanish). March 5, 2024.
  33. ^ de la Ossa, Juan Francisco (March 5, 2024). "Sean Rea, el fichaje del presente... ¿y del futuro del Castellón? Descubre aquí cómo juega" [Sean Rea, the signing of the present... and of the future of Castellón? Find out here how he plays]. El Periódico Mediterráneo (in Spanish).
  34. ^ "El CD Castellón B remonta al Gandia y su gran racha le mete en la pugna por la Promoción" [CD Castellón B comes back from Gandia and their great streak puts them in the fight for Promotion]. Gols Media (in Spanish). March 8, 2024.
  35. ^ "Wanderers sign former U21 Player of the Year Sean Rea". HFX Wanderers FC. July 31, 2024. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  36. ^ Tierney, Mitchell (July 31, 2024). "'His reputation in the league precedes him': Halifax Wanderers announce the signing of Sean Rea". Canadian Premier League.
  37. ^ Healey, Josh (July 22, 2024). "Atlético Ottawa are working hard to untangle their cap situation. Whether they can find the space to land Sean Rea remains to be seen". Wanderers Notebook.
  38. ^ Rhodes, Benedict (August 5, 2024). "Match Analysis: Halifax Wanderers inch toward playoffs with crucial win over Vancouver FC". Canadian Premier League.
  39. ^ a b Jacques, John (January 16, 2023). "Sean Rea: 'I Don't Think I'll Return To CPL'". Northern Tribune.
  40. ^ "Quatre membres de l'Académie de l'Impact représenteront le Canada" [Four members of the Impact Academy will represent Canada]. Le Journal de Montréal (in French). August 4, 2017.
  41. ^ "Canada qualify for semi-finals at CONCACAF Boys' Under-15 Championship". SIRC. August 17, 2017.
  42. ^ "CONCACAF drops stacked Canada preliminary Nations League roster with some surprise names". Canada Soccer Daily. May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  43. ^ Tait, Ed (April 13, 2021). "Valour FC's on-loan forward Sean Rea: 'Valour is a perfect opportunity'". Canadian Premier League.
  44. ^ Sean Rea at Soccerway
  45. ^ "2023 L1QC Stats". Spordle.