The Montreal Impact bolstered its roster as training camp opened Monday with two new midfielders -- designated player Saphir Taider and 20-year-old Chilean Jeisson Vargas.

Taider, 25, is French but plays internationally for Algeria. He arrived on a three-year deal that includes two years on loan from Bologna FC, plus a club option for 2021.

Vargas, an attacking midfielder, signed for 2018 with two-and-a-half option years.

Both will likely be key pieces in an Impact lineup that has been largely rebuilt since French coach Remi Garde was hired in November.

The newcomers, plus the recently signed goalkeeper Clement Diop and defenders Jukka Raitala, Raheem Edwards, Michael Petrasso and Zakaria Diallo, were presented at a news conference at the team's training centre.

Taider, who usually plays in a defensive midfield position, takes the place of attacking midfielder Blerim Dzemaili, who asked to return to Bologna after only six months in Montreal to be closer to his family. Impact president Joey Saputo also owns Bologna.

Taider said Dzemaili spoke well of the Impact, which helped sell him on joining the MLS club.

"I could have stayed in Europe but I came here to win trophies," said Taider. "I haven't been able to do that yet."

He was just what Garde was looking for. Former captain Patrice Bernier, who retired after last season, presented Taider an Impact jersey with his old No. 8.

"It's an excellent signing for our club because Saphir is both young and has a lot of experience on the European stage," said Garde. "His career thus far in some of Serie A's biggest clubs and with the Algerian national team makes him a very important player who can help the Impact win trophies in the seasons to come.

"After explaining the project being put in place here in Montreal, to my great satisfaction, he chose to accept this challenge and to invest himself fully. I am convinced that he has all the capacities to become one of the top players in MLS."

Taider played seven seasons in Italy's top division, registering 10 goals and eight assists in 162 games. After playing his age group soccer for France, he has five goals in 42 games for Algeria.

He gives Montreal a second DP after midfielder Ignacio Piatti.

Garde said Vargas "has real dribbling and shooting abilities. He can play in different attacking positions. I think he is a player who has a good margin for progression and whose profile will be very useful to the team during the season."

The new coach, who managed former French powerhouse Lyon then became its head of player development, is known for bringing along young talent. He has already made the Impact a much younger squad after being among the oldest in MLS in recent years.

Among the newcomers, only 31-year-old Diallo isn't in his 20s but the Frenchman brings much-needed height to the central defence.

He replaces Belgian international Laurent Ciman, who was traded to Los Angeles FC for Edwards and Riatala.

Diop, 24, a French-Senegalese player who was claimed from the Los Angeles Galaxy in the waiver draft, is slated to start the season as backup to goalkeeper Evan Bush.

Petrasso, a 22-year-old Canadian international, signed with Montreal after reaching mutual agreement to end his contract with English club Queen's Park Rangers, where he spent six years. He should compete for playing time with incumbent right back Chris Duvall.

"Being at home in Canada is special to me," said the Toronto native. "All my friends and family can come and watch me play.

"I can play on the wing or at right back. My style is direct. I'm energetic on the field and I'm quite quick. Right now I'm comfortable at right back, so I prefer to play there."

Petrasso already knew some Impact players from the Canadian national team, including Edwards, midfielder Samuel Piette and forward Anthony Jackson-Hamel.

The 22-year-old Edwards and 29-year-old Raitala both play left back, where Daniel Lovitz took over after the recently departed Ambroise Oyongo was injured in June. They were claimed by LAFC in the expansion draft, then dealt to Montreal.

Edwards, who helped Toronto FC win an MLS championship last season, was shocked by the trade at first.

"I was but I'm happy to be here," he said. "I'm optimistic.

"They went a younger route. There's a bunch of young players that are hungry. They went in a new direction with a new coach as well. We're looking to build upon that."

Raitala, of Finland, may have been the only newcomer besides the Canadians not surprised to look out the window and see the team's training fields covered in snow. Now he's looking forward to watching some hockey in Montreal.

The Impact are slated to work out indoors at Olympic Stadium on Tuesday, then head to Florida.