TFC Republic Weekly: February 10-16
Roster reinforcements could be coming this week for Toronto FC coach Robin Fraser ahead of the start of the new season on Feb. 22.
Welcome to the latest edition of TFC Republic Weekly, an email newsletter that will land in the inbox of both paid subscribers and free members of TFC Republic every Monday.
This newsletter will look at what's in store over the next seven days for Toronto FC, and also get a glimpse of what to expect at TFC Republic in the coming days.
So, without further ado...
Jason Hernandez hopes to add 2-3 new players this week
Speaking at an event for Toronto FC season ticket-holders last Thursday, GM Jason Hernandez said he was hopeful of adding two to three players to the team's roster this week.
The only off-season addition to the Reds' squad thus far has been Canadian international Theo Corbeanu on loan from Spanish club Granada CF. With Toronto set to open the 2025 season away to D.C. United on Feb. 22, many supporters are worried about the lack of reinforcements to a team that scored just 40 times last year (fourth-worst in MLS) and conceded 61 goals.
Hernandez told the audience the team had offers out to a striker, a midfielder and a centre back. He noted that the striker would be a TAM-level player this season and a DP next year.
"I'm hopeful, in 48-72 hours, we'll be talking about two to three players that are going to be with the group, which is nice," Hernandez said.
MLSE president and CEO Keith Pelley revealed that negotiations involving a AS Roma player (believed to be forward Eldor Shomurodov) took place in Rome that involved Hernandez, Sebastian Giovinco and Marco Neppe. But a deal didn't end up getting done.
"At the end of the day, Jason called me and said, 'I can make this deal,' but it's not the right deal for the short term and the long term for the club," Pelley said.
John Molinaro
Could both Italian DPs be soon leaving Toronto FC?
Jason Hernandez also hinted at last week's fan event that Italian designated players Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi might not remain at the club this season.
Hernandez said that TFC regularly receives inquiries about both players during transfer windows, and revealed that discussions continue with Insigne and his representatives about his future at the club.
"I would say those conversations are still ongoing, and so, like [Keith Pelley] mentioned previously, everything is on the table," Hernandez said.
He added: "Certainly, [Insigne and Bernardeschi are] two players that are under contract. Is there a world where not both of those players are under contract to start the season? Yes, there is a world where that is the assessment."
Insigne, who turns 34 in June, was the second-highest paid player in MLS in 2024 (behind Lionel Messi) when he earned $15.4 million US. But the Italian didn't live up to his hefty pay packet, as he scored just four goals and tallied seven assists in 23 league games while being bothered by a rash of injuries.
John Molinaro
TFC 2 goalkeeper Adisa De Rosario joins senior team
Toronto FC announced last Friday the signing of goalkeeper Adisa De Rosario to a first team contract as a homegrown player through 2026, with club options for 2027 and 2028.
De Rosario, the 20-year-old son of former Toronto FC player Dwayne De Rosario, was out of contract with TFC 2 at the end of the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro season. He is the 35th player in club history to graduate to the first team from the TFC youth academy.
De Rosario made 25 all-time appearances for TFC 2 since signing with the club on March 23, 2023. The California-born goalkeeper made his debut for the Young Reds two months later and spent part of that season on loan with York United FC of the Canadian Premier League where he made four appearances.
Prior to signing with TFC 2, De Rosario joined the team's youth academy in 2015 and played across several age groups as he worked his way up the system. In 2022, he signed a short-term development contract with the Halifax Wanderers of CPL and made his professional debut against Forge FC on Oct. 9, 2022. Last season, he appeared in 20 games for TFC 2.
The expectation is that De Rosario will be behind Sean Johnson and Luka Gavran, who both signed contract extensions since last summer, in the Reds' goalkeeping depth chart this season. With this in mind, it wouldn't come as a big shock to see De Rosario be routinely loaned out to TFC 2 in 2025 so that he can stay sharp and get valuable minutes in MLS NEXT Pro.
John Molinaro
Two exhibition games this week for the Reds
Toronto FC kicks off the second leg of its pre-season training camp in Palm Beach on Monday and the team will remain in Florida until Feb. 21.
The Reds will have two exhibition matches while in the Sunshine State: vs. the Colorado Rapids (Feb. 11) and Columbus Crew (Feb. 15). Assuming that there'll be live streams of both games, Toronto FC will have post-match coverage of both contests.
TFC plays their 2025 regular season opener away to D.C. United at Audi Field on Feb. 22. The Reds host the Chicago Fire in their home opener at BMO Field on March 15.
John Molinaro
Very important dates for Toronto FC
Below are some key dates to remember for Toronto FC during the 2025 MLS season.
Major League Soccer will have two transfer windows this year:
- Primary transfer window: Jan. 31 to April 23
- Secondary transfer window: July 24 to Aug. 21
During the two windows, MLS clubs can buy and sell players via transfer deals (from both within the league and from abroad). MLS teams can also make trades with each other for players and league assets (GAM, draft picks, international roster slots, etc).
The roster compliance deadline is Feb. 21. All MLS teams must be roster and budget compliant by this date. Teams also have to declare which roster model they plan to use by this date.
The roster freeze date is Sept. 12. MLS clubs must submit their final 30-man roster for the remainder of the season. Rosters can't be changed from that date through the day after MLS Cup, subject to the league's extreme hardship rule.
John Molinaro
Special announcement from TFC Republic
I'd like to inform TFC Republic readers that I will be hitting the road during the 2025 MLS season in order to cover some of Toronto FC's away games.
I will be in Washington for TFC's regular season opener versus D.C. United at Audi Field on Feb. 22, and my aim is to travel for one or two road matches per month (10-12 matches in total) during the season, plus any road games the Reds might play during the playoffs.
I'm always looking for ways to improve TFC Republic's coverage of the team, while also ensuring readers get more bang for their buck and the absolute best value for their paid subscriptions. I think this will accomplish both goals as I anticipate being the only regular beat reporter who'll travel to cover Toronto FC on a regular basis this season.
For readers who only get the weekly TFC Republic email newsletter but are not paid subscribers, this might be the perfect time to purchase a subscription so that you can have full access to the type of coverage that won't be available anywhere else. To purchase a subscription, CLICK HERE.
RELATED READING: News | Features | Match reports | Newsletter | Opinion | Q&As | Roster moves | TFC 2 | Audio | Videos
Stories to look out for at TFC Republic
Richard Chukwu is one of the most promising prospects for Toronto FC. The 16-year-old centre back from the team's youth academy made his TFC 2 debut in 2024, collecting one assist in 10 appearances during the MLS NEXT Pro season. He was also invited to a special pre-training camp by Canadian men's team coach Jesse Marsch last November, and he is currently captaining his country at the Concacaf U-17 World Cup qualification tournament. GM Jason Hernandez talked up Chukwu last week when speaking to TFC fans, saying the youngster has a bright future ahead of himself with the MLS club. I recently spoke to Chukwu one-on-one. Look for my feature story in the coming days.
Other stories that will be published later this week include:
- Post-game reports on TFC's two exhibition games this week.
- We take a closer look at Toronto FC's roster in a special feature.
- A new TFC Talk audio interview with beat reporter James Grossi.
- A feature story on Reds coach Robin Fraser.
- Regular "TFC Tidbits" stories throughout the week.
- The latest instalment of our "TFC flashback" history series.
- The reader mailbag.
- And much more!
TFC Republic mailbag
TFC Republic will feature a regular reader mailbag column where I answer questions from subscribers about Toronto FC and Canadian soccer in general.
I'll answer the best questions submitted to me by TFC Republic readers, so feel free to drop me an email at jmo1897@gmail.com. You can also reach out to me via Twitter.
(Top photo courtesy of Toronto FC)
TFC Republic has a comments section! At the very bottom of every story, there is a feature where you can post your comments, so be sure to share your thoughts and views.
