CCSG By The Numbers: 2025 Roster Breakdown (Part 3)

Welcome to part three of a five-part series breaking down the 2025 Atlético Ottawa roster! In parts one and two, the first eight players were ranked in descending order based on their WPA, an all-encompassing metric designed to quantify a player’s on-field impact. The methodology for that is broken down here, and if you missed the previous two articles, part one is here, and part two is here. As usual, each player is accompanied by a small blurb detailing how their season went, both statistically and aesthetically, their contract status for 2026, and, if their contract is up in the air, a little recommendation.  The final rankings are put in a table at the end of the article for easy digestion. With that out of the way, vamos!

#15: Noah Abatneh - CB (60.1 WPA)

Like Sergei Kozlovskiy before him, and Loïc Cloutier after him, Abatneh is partially carried by his admittedly great passing numbers. However, one must take into consideration that a lot of those were sideways and backwards, evidenced by his good-but-not-great through-ball stats. He ranked fairly well in defensive “desperation” actions—blocks and clearances—but only ok everywhere else. Of course, a lot should be said for putting up these types of numbers at such a young age, something that applies to all of his compatriots on the back line, and he has improved since last year when he suited up for York9—I mean York United—I mean Inter Toronto. 

Contract Status in 2026: Option, presumably a club option

Like seemingly every single other youngster on the roster, Abatneh is attracting interest from larger clubs—in this case, CF Montréal and Atlanta United of the MLS. If either of these manifests, Ottawa will not receive any transfer money. But if they don’t, Atleti will almost certainly activate his option and bring him back for one more year, where if he keeps improving all aspects of his game, he will be a force to be reckoned with. 

#14: Loïc Cloutier - CB (60.5 WPA)

Cloutier presented almost the exact same profile as Abatneh, with good passing and alright defensive stats, but he was a better tackler, giving him the slight edge. He was a little more defensively minded than Abatneh, but offered a little less going forward, so overall he graded out about the same, which again is a credit to him, given his age. 

Contract Status in 2026: Under contract, with an option for 2027

Cloutier has been marked for transfer speculation, but as of yet has had no concrete rumours on a destination. Thankfully, he would rank as one of the few to give Ottawa a fee; if not, he will still grow tremendously with another year at this level.

#13: Gabriel Antinoro - WM (62.1)

Like with Coulanges, the wingers in Mejía’s system graded fairly strangely, so pardon the metrics and score being so mediocre given a season many would class as tremendous. Antinoro was everywhere in 2025, although as demonstrated by the distribution of statistics, mostly focused on the offensive side of the game. He didn’t show many weaknesses, aside from his duelling (a given with his stature) and long ball metrics, and he ranked above average in basically every other category. Antinoro did not grade out well last season, and it shows that Mejía has really rounded out his game on both sides of the ball.

Contract Status in 2026: Under contract through 2027

If you took a drink every time an Ottawa U21 player gained transfer looks you’d be in the hospital for alcohol poisoning, and Antinoro would have contributed to that. It has been reported that he has drawn interest from Toronto FC in the MLS, which like all of his compatriots, would be a huge career move for him. I don’t know what his future holds, but of course selfishly I would love to have him back next year patrolling the flanks in the CONCACAF Champions Cup and in our title defence.

#12: Roni Mbomio - CB (62.2 WPA)

In the words of Kanye West, a figure totally devoid of controversy I am sure (and just imagine I am singing this with perfect tune), “He’s done miracles on me.” Mbomio came in on what was effectively an emergency loan from Atlético Madrid and saved our season when we had no other CB options, slotting immediately into the back line only a few days after he arrived in Canada. His passing and ball progression were excellent, he duelled well when called upon, recovered the ball, and chipped in defensively as well. If he had played the entire season he might have even replaced Espejo in the shrine I have set up for ATM CB loanees. 

Contract Status in 2026: Loan presumably will expire

They tell you not to fall in love with loanees, but here we are again. It has emerged recently that Mbomio is training with the Atleti first team, a massive step for the kid. After his international debut with Equatorial Guinea, I look forward to tracking his career progression after what was a gift from God sending him here to win a title.

#11: Brett Levis - LB/CB (67.2 WPA)

Brett Levis was so much more than he needed to be for Ottawa’s back line this season. Levis was one of the best LBs in the history of the league when he left Valour for better things, but came back after a bit of career stagnation in the USL to be a veteran depth option at the position. Unfortunately, Mejía’s system precluded the use of conventional full-backs, and since Levis was not necessarily up for a winger role, he slotted in at CB instead—and performed tremendously when called upon when no other options were available after not being in the squad for a stretch. He was involved in every defensive action, and his rate stats are excellent across the board, in an admittedly small sample. He was also tremendous at moving the ball forward, something I’m sure was highly valued by the coaching staff. While not exactly the role most envisioned him in, he proved a key cog in the Ottleti title-winning machine.

Contract Status in 2026: Under contract

I’m not sure what next year will have in store for him. Given rumours that our backline might be decimated by transfers, perhaps he will have a bigger role as a full-time CB, but he might also play a depth role again once some replacements are brought in. Time will tell, but I have every confidence in him to fulfill any task he’s given.

That’s it for what was a defensive-heavy article—most would agree our defence was largely average this season, and the model agrees. Up next are mostly midfielders and forwards, always the most exciting players to analyze (for most). Enjoy!