MONTREAL — The Montreal Impact signed 17-year-old forward Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla to a two-year contract beginning in the 2017 season, the Major League Soccer club announced Thursday.

The Ivory Coast-born Canadian is the youngest player ever signed to the Impact's MLS squad. He will also take part in a 10-day camp with Bologna FC in November.

Ballou had five goals and five assists in 21 games this season with the Impact's USL team, Montreal FC.

"He is an exciting attacking player who has strong technical abilities and is able to be creative and dynamic in the final third," technical director Adam Braz said in a statement. "We look forward to seeing him evolve and progress with the first team."

The five-foot-nine winger was named the Canadian under-17 Player of the Year in 2014 and the Quebec Soccer Federation male youth player of excellence in 2014 and 2015. He has scored three goals in 14 games with the Canadian under-17 and under-20 squads.