TFC Republic Weekly: February 17-23
After a lengthy winter, Toronto FC kicks off its 2025 MLS regular season on Saturday away to D.C. United.
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...
Free preview of TFC Republic this week
TFC Republic will be offering a free trial this entire week.
What that means is every piece of new content published on the website from today going forward will come out from behind the paywall and be available to everyone to read and enjoy. The free preview will end at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 23.
This is the ideal time to subscribe to TFC Republic, as we will be looking ahead to the 2025 MLS campaign over the next several days, and then provide in-depth coverage of the club from every possible angle all season long. If you’ve ever been on the fence about purchasing a subscription, now is your chance to check out the website during this week's free preview and see what you've been missing.
I’m sure you’ll find at the end of the free trial that TFC Republic provides thoughtful and nuanced analysis of all things Toronto FC, and that you'll be inclined to purchase a subscription at one of two very affordable rates. A monthly subscription costs just $8, while a yearly subscription is $50 (a savings of 48%).
Readers who purchase a yearly subscription to TFC Republic can also get up to a 20% discount on ticket prices for Toronto FC home games during the 2025 MLS regular season and the Canadian Championship. For more details on the ticket discount, CLICK HERE
You can subscribe to TFC Republic by CLICKING HERE, or by clicking on the subscribe button on the top right of the home page.
John Molinaro
The Lorenzo Insigne saga continues
With the start of the MLS season less than a week away, Toronto FC still has to answer one pressing question: What to do about Lorenzo Insigne?
TFC Republic reported back in November that the club was actively trying to move out the former Napoli captain after he suffered through another lacklustre campaign in 2024 in which he scored just four goals in 23 league games. GM Jason Hernandez recently revealed that discussions continued with Insigne and his representatives about his future with TFC.
According to a report from Tom Bogert, Toronto presented Insigne the option to join a top-flight club in either Italy, Spain or Turkey, with the added bonus of buying him out at a rate that would see him receive a significant portion of the money remaining on his contract. Insigne was the second-highest paid player in MLS last year (behind Lionel Messi), earning $15.4 million US. Bogert reported that Insigne turned down all three options.
So, where do Toronto FC and Lorenzo Insigne go from here? For the time being, it appears as though the two parties are stuck with each other, trapped in a bad marriage that no amount of counselling could save.
It'll be interesting to see how this situation gets resolved – whether new coach Rob Fraser will use Insigne in any meaningful way, or if the Italian has played his last game for Toronto FC.
John Molinaro
TFC secures Ola Brynhildsen on loan
Toronto FC announced over the weekend the signing of Norwegian forward Ola Brynhildsen on loan until Dec. 31, 2025 from Danish side FC Midtjylland utilizing targeted allocation money. The loan agreement includes a purchase option for the Reds at the end of the 2025 season.
Brynhildsen, 25, has 76 goals and 33 assists in 267 games across all competitions in a club career that began in his native Norway with Stabæk Fotball, the club that former TFC coach Bob Bradley managed on two separate occasions.
The five-foot-ten striker has four caps for Norway since making his international debut in November 2022. He can operate out wide, in addition to playing up front as the lead striker, can score goals with both feet and can create scoring chances for others. He's also known for putting pressure at opponents when they're in possession.
Brynhildsen fits the profile of the type of striker that TFC needs: An experienced player who is in their mid-20s and who has a history as a consistent goal scorer in a top European league. Toronto FC has to get younger and more athletic in order to be more competitive in MLS, and Brynhildsen helps the club in that regard.
Make no mistake about it, the pressure will be on Brynhildsen to spark a stagnant TFC attack into life this season. The Reds only scored 40 times in MLS in 2024 (fourth worst in the league) and nobody on the team hit double digits in scoring in MLS play. Owusu was the Reds' top scoring forward in league play with nine goals, followed by Deandre Kerr and Derrick Etienne Jr. (three each) and Tyrese Spicer (two).
Look for Toronto FC to announce more player signings this week as it still needs to fill holes in midfield and in the centre of defence.
John Molinaro
TFC vs. D.C. United on Saturday
Toronto FC kicks off its 2025 MLS regular season on Saturday when it pays a visit to Audi Field for a game against D.C. United (7:30 p.m. ET/Apple TV).
Like Toronto, the club from the U.S. capital is coming off a disappointing 2024 season. D.C. failed to make the playoffs as it finished 10th in the Eastern Conference, three points and one spot above TFC.
D.C. has made a slew of off-season moves, including the acquisitions of Brazilina midfielder João Peglow, and former Toronto FC players Lukas MacNaughton and Brandon Servania.
This weekend marks the first game between Toronto FC and D.C. since the Reds dropped a 3-1 decision to the club from the U.S. capital on Aug. 31, 2024 at BMO Field. TFC looked to have secured a draw with a late equalizer by substitute Deandre Kerr, only to concede with two minutes left in regulation and again in injury time to let a valuable point slip through their fingers. Earlier in the 2024 season, the teams played to a 2-2 draw at Audi Field.
D.C. leads the all-time MLS regular season series against Toronto with 18 wins and 12 draws in 41 games. TFC are 4-8-8 on the road vs. D.C. with their last victory there coming in 2016 when D.C. was still playing its home games at RFK Stadium.
John Molinaro
CanWNT kicks off at Pinatar Cup
The Canadian women's team begins life under new coach Casey Stoney this week when it competes at the Pinatar Cup, a four-nation, invitational tournament taking place in Spain.
Ranked No. 6 in the world, the Canadians take on No. 17 China on Feb. 19 before facing No. 31 Mexico on Feb. 22 and No. 42 Taiwan on Feb. 25. All three games will be played at the Pinatar Arena in Murcia.
The most recognizable names on Stoney's first Canadian roster include captain Jessie Fleming, goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan, defenders Vanessa Gilles and Ashley Lawrence, midfielder Julia Grosso, and forwards Janine Beckie and Adriana Leon. There is also a newcomer in 19-year-old defender Ella Ottey.
AFC Toronto's Emma Regan is one of the first two Northern Super League players to earn a national team call-up, as the 25-year-old defender from Burnaby, B.C., and Vancouver Rise midfielder Samantha Chang are also a part of Stoney's 26-player roster.
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.
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 in Ohio for the Reds' match away to FC Cincinnati at TQL Stadium on March 8. 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.
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Stories to look out for at TFC Republic
There are so many big and important questions facing Toronto FC right now on the cusp of the new MLS season. TFC Republic will try to answer them in a special feature story that will be published in the coming days.
Other stories that will be published later this week include:
- A story on Toronto FC's potential starting 11 and depth options at each position this season.
- A piece looking at the five TFC players who have to step up in 2025.
- In-depth pre- and post-game coverage of Toronto's season opener away to D.C. United.
- A new audio interview piece with Steven Goff of The Washington Post ahead of Saturday's road game vs. D.C. United.
- Catching up with former Toronto FC coach Greg Vanney.
- In-depth pre- and post-game coverage of Canada's matches at the Pinatar Cup.
- Regular "TFC Tidbits" stories throughout the week.
- 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.
