Montreal Impact sign legendary striker Didier Drogba

Given Montreal’s issues in attack, though, Drogba will have plenty of opportunity to help out -- their leading scorer, Ignacio Piatti, has six goals, but three are from penalties and only two are from open play. Jack McInerney and Dominic Oduro are the next leading scorers with just four goals apiece, and Montreal as a group have scored just 25 goals in 18 MLS matches. Given Drogba’s technical skill and physical nature, you have to think he’ll give them at least some appreciable level of help up top given how much they’ve struggled.

Even if Drogba doesn’t make a massive impact, though, the signing is still a big coup for MLS. The Ivorian is one of the true superstars of the game, having helped Chelsea win four Premier League titles, the Champions League once and the FA Cup four times, and he is the Ivory Coast’s all-time leading goalscorer among a huge list of other club and personal achievements. His legend is on the same level as Thierry Henry, Kaka, and Andrea Pirlo -- other greats MLS has imported over the last decade -- not to mention former Chelsea teammate and New York City FC midfielder Frank Lampard.

Drogba has also been linked to a move to MLS for years, dating back to rumors of him joining the Seattle Sounders in 2011. He ultimately spent some time in China and Turkey between his two Chelsea stints, and decided that this year was the time to cross the Atlantic and play in the United States.

Montreal had to acquire Drogba’s MLS rights from the Chicago Fire before signing Drogba, which they did on Sunday to clear the way for Monday’s signing. Their next match is scheduled for August 1 against NYCFC in New York, but it’s more likely that Drogba would make his debut on August 6 when the Impact take on the New York Red Bulls in Montreal.