Toronto FC was a 'breath of fresh air' for Derrick Etienne Jr in 2024
In a 1-on-1 interview, the Haiti international discusses his first season with TFC, why things didn't work out for him in Atlanta, and more.
One of the more interesting roster moves made by Toronto FC this year occurred right before the closure of the MLS primary transfer window in April when it pulled off a trade with Atlanta United FC for winger Derrick Etienne Jr.
A veteran of eight MLS seasons, Etienne Jr. previously turned out for the New York Red Bulls, FC Cincinnati (on loan), Columbus Crew and Atlanta. He also had a track record of success, having won the Supporters’ Shield with New York in 2018 and an MLS Cup (2020) and Campeones Cup (2021) with Columbus.
But since joining Atlanta as a free agent prior to the 2023 season, Etienne Jr. made just 25 appearances while recording two assists with no goals. Prior to the trade with TFC, he appeared in only two league games for Atlanta in 2024, logging 25 minutes as a substitute. That was a far cry from his tenure in Columbus where he scored 12 goals and tallied 14 assists in 90 games across three campaigns – one of his goals came against the Seattle Sounders in the Crew's MLS Cup victory.
Etienne Jr., 28, turned out to be a decent pickup for Toronto, scoring five goals and tallying four assists in 30 matches in all competitions. The Haitian international proved to be a versatile asset for the Reds, not only slotting in at the winger position, but also playing in central midfield and as a forward.
