The Montreal Impact have added to the local talent on their roster with the signing of Canadian national team midfielder Samuel Piette.

The Major League Soccer club announced Thursday that Piette, of Repentigny, Que., near Montreal, has signed a two-and-a-half year contract with an option for 2020 after transferring from Spanish club CD Izarra.

The 22-year-old was to take part in his first practice on Thursday afternoon.

"I am very happy to join the Impact, the club of my heart, and to have the chance to play in front of my family, friends and our supporters," Piette said in a release. "I can't wait to wear the jersey and I am looking forward to helping the team reach its objectives."

The defensive midfielder has been playing in Europe since he was a teenager but recently expressed an interest in returning to his home city.

He will bring youth to the holding midfielder position, where current starters Marco Donadel and Hernan Bernardello are in their 30s.

"He's a local player who showed a lot of interest in joining our club and continuing his career at home in Montreal," said technical director Adam Braz. "He's a young defensive midfielder with a profile and playing style that we like.

"He has a strong work ethic and a strong desire to help the team. Defensively, he is an aggressive, ball-winning midfielder who is strong and physical. Offensively, he is simple and effective with his passing and keeps the team in possession."

Piette adds to the Impact's contingent of players from Quebec, including midfielders Patrice Bernier and Ballou Tabla, forward Anthony Jackson-Hamel and back-up goalkeeper Max Crepeau. Little-used midfielders Louis Beland-Goyette and David Choiniere are also from the area.

Piette played 46 games in Spain in the last two years, including 32 with CD Izarra. He joined Deportivo La Coruna in 2014 and spent a year on loan with Racing de Ferrol in 2015-2016. He previously played in Germany with Fortuna Dusseldorf, appearing in two Bundesliga games as well as 31 with the youth team.

Piette played his youth soccer in Boisbriand, Que., before joining FC Metz in France in 2009 under a partnership with the Quebec Soccer Federation.

He has two assists in 35 international games and was a standout as Canada reached the quarter-finals at the recent Gold Cup tournament in the United States. He earned his first cap at 17 in 2012 against the U.S.