{{Short description|Tunisian footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}} {{Infobox football biography |name = Mehdi Essoussi |image = |fullname = |birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2001|02|28|df=y}} |birth_place = Tunis, Tunisia |height = 6 ft 1 in |position = Midfielder |currentclub = Unionville Milliken SC |clubnumber = |youthyears1 = |youthclubs1 = Nepean Hotspurs |youthyears2 = 2011 |youthclubs2 = Ottawa Fury |youthyears3 = 2010–2016 |youthclubs3 = Ottawa South United |youthyears4 = 2017–2021 |youthclubs4 = Toronto FC |collegeyears1 = 2023– |college1 = Toronto Varsity Blues |collegecaps1 = 30 |collegegoals1 = 5 |years1 = 2018 |caps1 = 13 |goals1 = 1 |clubs1 = Toronto FC III |years2 = 2019–2022 |caps2 = 24 |goals2 = 0 |clubs2 = Toronto FC II |years3 = 2022 |caps3 = 0 |goals3 = 0 |clubs3 = → Toronto FC (loan) |years4 = 2023–2024 |caps4 = 30 |goals4 = 1 |clubs4 = Alliance United FC |years5 = 2025 |caps5 = 15 |goals5 = 0 |clubs5 = Vancouver FC |years6 = 2025–2026 |caps6 = 3 |goals6 = 2 |clubs6 = Canadian Crusaders (indoor) |years7 = 2026– |caps7 = 0 |goals7 = 0 |clubs7 = Unionville Milliken SC |nationalyears1 = |nationalteam1 = |nationalcaps1 = |nationalgoals1 = |club-update = April 12, 2026 |nationalteam-update = }}
'''Mehdi Essoussi''' (born 28 February 2001) is a Tunisian footballer who plays as a midfielder for Unionville Milliken SC in the Ontario Premier League.
==Early life== Essoussi was born in Tunis, Tunisia, before moving to Montreal, Canada, when he was one, followed by a move to Ottawa at age two.<ref name=canada>{{Canada Soccer player|id=5848}}</ref> He began playing youth soccer at age four with the Nepean Hotspurs SC,<ref name=canada /> before moving on to Ottawa South United<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.osu.ca/force-academy/force-academy-alumni-national-teams-professional-players|title=Force Academy Alumni: National Teams and Professional Players|work=Ottawa South United}}</ref> and spending some time in the Ottawa Fury Academy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wendycotie.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/2011furymediaguide_med.pdf|title=Ottawa Fury 2011 Media Guide|work=Ottawa Fury SC}}</ref> He then moved on to join the Toronto FC Academy. He also played with the Team Ontario provincial team and attended a Canada national team identification camp.<ref name=uoft>{{cite web|url=https://news.engineering.utoronto.ca/high-performance-meet-two-elite-athletes-joining-u-of-t-engineering/|work=University of Toronto|title=High performance: Meet two elite student athletes at U of T Engineering|first=Marit|last=Mitchell|date=October 1, 2018}}</ref>
==University career== Essoussi began attending the University of Toronto while playing professionally with Toronto FC II, thereby being ineligible to play for the school team until one full year after his final professional appearance.<ref name=varsity>{{cite web|url=https://thevarsity.ca/2026/03/15/the-greater-goal-mehdi-essoussis-team-first-mentality/|title=The greater goal: Mehdi Essoussi’s team-first mentality|first=Jean Patrick|last=Vidad|date=March 15, 2026|work=The Varsity}}</ref> In 2023, after sitting out the beginning of the season due to the eligibility rules,<ref name=varsity /> he eventually joined the men's soccer team, making one appearance that season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://varsityblues.ca/sports/mens-soccer/roster/mehdi-essoussi/15484|title=Mehdi Essoussi Varsity Blues profile|work=Toronto Varsity Blues}}</ref> In 2024, he was named the team captain and was named an OUA East First Team All-Star.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://varsityblues.ca/news/2024/12/5/mens-soccer-hallam-and-essoussi-selected-in-cpl-u-sports-draft.aspx|title=Hallam and Essoussi selected in CPL-U Sports Draft|date=December 5, 2024|work=Toronto Varsity Blues}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://varsityblues.ca/news/2024/11/1/mens-soccer-orlov-coach-of-the-year-hallam-rookie-of-the-year-blues-soccer-receive-four-all-stars.aspx|title=Orlov coach of the year, Hallam rookie of the Year; Blues soccer receive four All-Stars|date=November 1, 2024|work=Toronto Varsity Blues}}</ref> In 2025, he was again named an OUA East First Team All-Star and was also named a U Sports Second Team All-Canadian.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://varsityblues.ca/news/2025/10/30/mens-soccer-mens-soccer-garners-two-major-awards-and-five-all-stars.aspx|title=Men's soccer garners two major awards and five All-Stars|date=October 30, 2025|work=Toronto Varsity Blues}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://varsityblues.ca/news/2025/11/5/mens-soccer-essoussi-named-all-canadian-grey-selected-all-rookie.aspx|title=Essoussi named All-Canadian, Grey selected All-Rookie|date=November 6, 2025|work=Toronto Varsity Blues}}</ref>
==Club career== In 2018, he began playing for Toronto FC III in the semi-professional League1 Ontario. He scored his first goal on 12 August against Sigma FC.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.league1ontario.com/news_article/show/941340|title=Sigma Goes Top Of League After Beating TFC III 2-1|date=August 13, 2018|work=League1 Ontario}}</ref> He was named a 2nd team all-star at the end of the season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.torontofc.ca/post/2018/11/27/academy-players-honoured-league1-ontario-awards|title=Academy players honoured with League1 Ontario Awards|date=November 27, 2018|first=Adam|last=Krueger|work=Toronto FC}}</ref>
On 27 September 2018, he signed his first professional contract with Toronto FC II to join them for the 2019 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.torontofc.ca/post/2018/09/27/toronto-fc-ii-sign-three-academy-players-2019-season|title=Toronto FC II sign three Academy players for 2019 season|date=September 27, 2018|work=Toronto FC}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wakingthered.com/2019/4/4/18295074/tfc-ii-set-to-kickoff-usl-league-one-season-toronto-fc-2019-preview-roster|title=TFC II set to kickoff USL League One season|first=James|last=Grossi|date=April 4, 2019|work=Waking the Red}}</ref> He made his debut on June 19 against the Lansing Ignite.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nsxinetwork.com/tfc-ii-v-lansing-another-haitian-sensation-ends-young-reds-unbeaten-run/|title=TFC II in D3: Lansing’s Haitian Sensation Ends Young Reds’ Unbeaten Run|first=Gwyn|last=Richards|work=Northern Starting XI|date=June 20, 2019}}</ref> On 21 May 2022, he signed a short-term loan with the first team Toronto FC.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.torontofc.ca/news/toronto-fc-sign-mehdi-essoussi-to-a-short-term-agreement|title=Toronto FC sign Mehdi Essoussi to a short-term agreement|date=May 21, 2022|work=Toronto FC}}</ref>
In 2023, he began playing with Alliance United FC in League1 Ontario.<ref name=23l1o>{{cite web|url=https://www.league1ontario.com/roster_players/64725473?subseason=875807|title=Mehdi Essoussi 2023 L1O Stats|work=League1 Ontario}}</ref>
At the 2025 CPL–U Sports Draft, Essoussi was selected in the second round (10th overall) by Vancouver FC.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://vancouverfc.canpl.ca/article/vancouver-fc-select-henri-godbout-and-mehdi-essoussi-in-2025-cpl-u-sports-draft|title=Vancouver FC select Henri Godbout and Mehdi Essoussi in 2025 CPL U-SPORTS Draft|date=December 5, 2024|work=Vancouver FC}}</ref> On 24 March 2025, he signed a U-Sports contract with Vancouver for the 2025 season.<ref>{{cite web |title=Vancouver FC sign midfielder Mehdi Essoussi and attacker Henri Godbout to CPL–U Sports contracts |url=https://vancouverfc.canpl.ca/article/vancouver-fc-sign-midfielder-mehdi-essoussi-and-attacker-henri-godbout-to-cpl-u-sports-contracts |publisher=Vancouver FC |access-date=26 March 2025 |date=24 March 2025}}</ref> In August 2025, he departed the club to return to university, as per the terms of his U-Sports contract, with the club retaining his rights for the 2026 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/vancouver-fc-retains-midfielder-thomas-powell-on-u-sports-contract-through-the-remainder-of-the-season/n-6269446|title=Vancouver FC Retains Midfielder Thomas Powell on U-SPORTS Contract Through the Remainder of the Season|date=15 August 2025|work=Pacific FC}}</ref>
==International career== Eligible to represent both his native Tunisia and Canada, he was called up to the Canadian under-15 national team camp in March 2016.<ref name=uoft /><ref name=canada/>
==Career statistics== {{updated|August 19, 2025}}<ref>{{Soccerway|mehdi-essoussi/531332}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Playoffs !colspan="2"|Domestic Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division !Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |Toronto FC III |2018<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.league1ontario.com/roster_players/24578273?subseason=490480 |title=2018 Statistics |accessdate=23 September 2018 |publisher=League 1 Ontario}}</ref> |League1 Ontario |13||1||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||2||0||colspan="2"|–||15||1 |- |rowspan=4|Toronto FC II |2019 |rowspan=2|USL League One |6||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||6||0 |- |2021 |15||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||15||0 |- |2022 |MLS Next Pro |3||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||3||0 |- ! colspan="2" |'''Total''' !24!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!24!!0 |- |Toronto FC (loan) |2022 |Major League Soccer |0||0||colspan="2"|–||0||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||0||0 |- |rowspan=3|Alliance United FC |2023<ref name=23l1o/> |League1 Ontario |12||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||12||0 |- |2024 |League1 Ontario Premier |18||1||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||1||0||colspan="2"|–||19||1 |- ! colspan="2" |'''Total''' !30!!1!!0!!0!!0!!0!!1!!0!!0!!0!!31!!1 |- |Vancouver FC |2025 |Canadian Premier League |15||0||colspan="2"|–||3||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||18||0 |- ! colspan="3" |'''Career total''' !82!!2!!0!!0!!3!!0!!3!!0!!0!!0!!98!!2 |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Soccerway|mehdi-essoussi/531332}} * {{Canada Soccer player|id=5848}}
{{Vancouver FC squad}} {{2025 CPL–U Sports Draft}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Essoussi, Mehdi}} Category:2001 births Category:Living people Category:Canadian men's soccer players Category:Tunisian men's footballers Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Footballers from Tunis Category:Soccer players from Ottawa Category:Toronto FC Academy players Category:Toronto FC II players Category:Toronto FC players Category:Alliance United FC players Category:Toronto Varsity Blues men's soccer players Category:Ontario Premier League players Category:USL League One players Category:MLS Next Pro players Category:21st-century Canadian sportsmen Category:Vancouver FC draft picks Category:Vancouver FC players Category:University and college men's soccer players in Canada Category:Canadian Premier League players Category:Unionville Milliken SC players