Sources: Star defender Thomas Meilleur-Giguère inks deal with Wanderers

Star centre-back Thomas Meilleur-Giguère has opted to take his services east, signing a deal to play with the Halifax Wanderers, sources told The Wanderers Notebook on Monday.

The Quebec-born defender joins the Wanderers following the expiration of a two-year contract with Pacific FC. Meilleur-Giguère received heavy interest across both the CPL and USL Championship, said sources, but didn’t rule out a return to Pacific. However, with offers on the table, he ultimately chose to join a Wanderers side looking to rebound from a disappointing campaign in 2024. In addition to the Wanderers, it’s believed Pacific also tabled an offer; sources said Lexington, in the USL, was also keen on the defender.

At 27-years old, Meilleur-Giguère becomes the oldest defender on Halifax’s roster and brings championship pedigree, having previously won the North Star Cup with Pacific. It’s expected he’ll be a key cog in head coach Patrice Gheisar’s plan to re-discover the club’s success from 2023. Speaking to reporters during his end of season availability, Gheisar stressed Halifax’s desire to find a veteran player capable of providing leadership on and off the pitch.

“Most importantly, one of the things we do want to obtain is an experienced veteran that can bring additional leadership to us, to steer away from us blaming anything other than ourselves and really, really underlining discipline,” said Gheisar.

Meilleur-Giguère certainly fits that bill.

The centre-back began his CPL career with Pacific following time in the USL Championship. Over the course of four seasons on Vancouver Island, Meilleur-Giguèr grew to become a key player for the Tridents, making 120 appearances for the club across all competitions. He led Pacific in minutes played, total passes, clearances and aerial duels won this past season.

The signing has yet to be confirmed by the Wanderers.

Cover Photo Credit: Canadian Premier League