Free agency can be a bit chaotic for goalkeepers in MLS. In the case of starting caliber keepers, there are essentially only 30 jobs available in the league, with 30 teams taking the pitch in 2026.
After coming off a strong 2024 campaign with the Portland Timbers, Canadian international Maxime Crépeau's free agency path led him to Orlando. After a few weeks of discussions with Orlando City SC General Manager Ricardo Moreira, the Montréal native was signed and officially taking his talents to the City Beautiful.
"It's always fun because you have no idea where you're going to end up," Crépeau told OrlandoCitySC.com. "It's a process of which team needs a goalkeeper, which team is interested in your profile, etc, etc. We got the conversation rolling with Ricardo, and I had an interview with the scouting department, then I met with (goalkeeper coach) Cesar (Baena), and we made it happen. So I'm very happy to be a Lion and play in purple."
Orlando brought in fresh talent this offseason to help revitalize a team that fell short of their goals in 2025. The goalkeeper position being one of the Lions' biggest to fill. Peruvian Pedro Gallese had locked down the job since joining the Lions in 2020.
"It's exciting for me to arrive and put my grain of salt into the group," Crépeau said. "We want to work all together for the main objective, which is to win. It's that simple."
This year also adds a unique wrinkle for Crépeau. 2026 will mark the first World Cup to host games in Canada, and Crépeau, a veteran of the Canadian National Team, will be heading into this season in a battle for the starting spot for Head Coach Jesse Marsh's side.
"Obviously, it's a huge opportunity on a personal level," Crépeau said. "A home World Cup only happens once."
The other wrinkle: the player he is competing against for that starting spot signed just four hours down south.
Crépeau and Canada international Dayne St. Clair now both call Florida home. Crépeau will wear purple, while St. Clair will don the pink of Inter Miami CF.
"We've been together for four or five years with the national team, and so we both knew that we were free agents," Crépeau said. " We had no clue that we were both landing in the Florida clubs. And so the fact that we can have a bit of spice into that rivalry as well is special. Both of us are looking forward to that game for sure."
Over the last few years, play styles have become increasingly important in tactical setups, especially for goalkeepers. Crépeau keeps things simple in his philosophy, stopping the ball from going into the back of the net. But on a deeper level, the Canadian takes pride in reading the game's critical moments and acting on those split-second windows.
"What I enjoy most is when your team requires you and needs you in important moments," he said. "When you're able to give that moment to your team to breathe from a moment of pressure. Coming out for a cross and just letting your team breathe. Just finding that moment in the game to benefit your organization, that's what I enjoy most."
Born in Quebec, Crépeau spent his formative years with CF Montréal, but since 2018, he has not played in the Eastern Conference. Now, not only will he play against many new faces each week, but he will also have to acclimate to Florida's warmer climate, especially after his last few years in Oregon.
"The league has been growing so fast in the last couple of years," Crépeau said. "It'll be great to face new strikers, new teams, new organizations, and play in stadiums I only get to visit once every couple of years."
Crépeau has played in Orlando several times, some in the early days at Camping World Stadium and twice at Inter&Co Stadium. Last season with Portland, he took the pitch in a 1-0 loss to Orlando, then again with the Canadian national team against Chile two years ago in the Copa América. Both times, he left impressed with the venue.
"It's a great field and a tight stadium," he said. "You can tell it holds sound very well. You can hear the fans—they're right there. There's an extra push, an extra motivation. Even though we don't need motivation for those games, it's a little bit extra that's appreciated from our side."
Playing here as a visitor was difficult, especially with The Wall constantly in his ear. Now, as he looks ahead to the season, playing with those 25,000 fans supporting him, it's something he's looking forward to the most.
"It'll be good to have the fans on my side now," he said. "There's always a moment for goalkeepers to create your moment with the supporters, so I'm really looking forward to that."
