Analysis: Wanderers add goalkeeper Rayane Yesli, giving him the opportunity to re-establish himself as a starter
Yesterday, the Halifax Wanderers cemented their goalkeeping position, signing Rayane Yesli to a deal that could see him on the East Coast until 2026. He joins fellow keeper Aiden Rushenas to form the Wanderers duo between the sticks for the upcoming campaign.
Born in Algeria but raised in Montréal, Québec, Yesli joins a squad looking to rebound from a disappointing season which saw them concede 43 goals, tied for worst in the CPL. Similarly, Yesli will also be looking to re-discover his form after his Golden Glove nominee season with Valour translated into only 11 appearances with Atlético Ottawa in 2024. He ultimately lost his spot to veteran goalkeeper Nathan Ingham, making his last start for Atlético Ottawa on August 10.
So what's to be expected of Yesli's time with the Wanderers?
A big presence in net
One of Yesli's defining characteristics is that he's big. Really big.
In fact, he's listed somewhere between 6'7 and 6'8 (sources vary), meaning he's a natural choice for shot stopper as he's got the height and reach to make himself hard to beat. Yesli's height is perhaps his greatest tool as he's strong in the air and capable of covering a lot of ground quickly. In 2023, which was his Golden Glove nominee season, Yesli led all first-choice keepers in save percentage, highlighting his shot stopping ability.
However, last year saw Yesli lose the number one goalkeeper job to Ingham and part of that is due to some ill timed mistakes. He finished the year with eight league appearances, making 19 saves while conceding 10 goals. Although still young at 25-years old, there's room for Yesli's passing and footwork to improve.
Yesli also already has over 40 professional appearances to his name which, paired with his age, made him an attractive option to replace departed starter Yann Fillion.
“At 25 he fits a profile our staff were targeting with his best years ahead of him," said Wanderers sporting director Matt Fegan.
Betting on a return to form
Make no mistake: Yesli comes to Halifax looking to re-establish himself as a number one goalkeeper.
He signed a similar deal with Atlético Ottawa last year, the expectation being that, surrounded by a more competitive squad, the young Montréaler would take the starting job from the 30-year old Ingham. The contract — one-year plus an option — gave the club flexibility should either player or club be unhappy with the results of the goalkeeper battle. Heading into 2024, Yesli is once again in a similar situation as he's on a shorter deal and expected to beat out the still developing Rushenas.
“It wasn’t easy,” said Yesli. “There’s some things that you just can’t control, and you’ve just got to be able to give your best every day. Just try to be a professional and try to get better, which is what I tried to do last year. We had a good year, I had a lot of fun there, met some nice people. But, of course, the main target is always to play.”
Although not a guarantee, Yesli is likely to get every opportunity to re-establish himself as the starting keeper. Head coach Patrice Gheisar has shown in Halifax he likes to run with one guy as Fillion started 55 out of 59 matches over two seasons.
As the Wanderers will be the third kit Yesli has donned in three years, you'll be sure he's going to want to take advantage of any edge Gheisar gives him.
Examining Rushenas' development
But it'd be foolish to write off Rushenas who, despite only making four starts last year, has shown the makings of a very solid keeper.
Selected in the 2023 CPL - U Sports Draft, Rushenas has quietly grown into himself as he trained with the first team and played with the club's development squad for a number of years before finally making his first professional start against Forge FC last August.
Through his four appearances — which saw the Wanderers earn three reds card — Rushenas made 15 saves and conceded seven goals, displaying an impressive knack for keeping the ball out of his net despite the circumstances.
Not including his height and experience, one of Yesli's biggest advantages over Rushenas is his willingness to play the ball. Like many young keepers, Rushenas is still becoming comfortable with his passing game, averaging 22.25 passes per match. Yesli made 250 passes last year in league play, good for 31.25 passes per match. Improving and being more comfortable with the ball at his feet will only help Rushenas earn more match time.
But the Wanderers certainly value Rushenas, opting to exercise his option despite the fact that he'll no longer be U-21 eligible this coming season. Given his talent and upward trajectory, it's reasonable to expect he'll get more minutes this season.
However, if Yesli can re-discover the form that earned him votes for the best goalkeeper in the league back in 2023, Rushenas might again find himself on the bench for large stretches of time. Yesli certainly has the ability to become the goalkeeper the Wanderers are betting he'll be but fans will have to wait until April to see it for themselves.
Further reading:
- Wanderers sign goalkeeper Rayane Yesli
- Sources: Riley Ferrazzo signs with York United FC
- 8 CPL Thoughts: Windsor expansion, CanChamp, Valour’s busy week, Mexico for CanPL and more
Cover Photo Credit: Matt Zambonin / Freestyle Photography)
