Transaction tracker: TFC bolster defence with Zane Monlouis

The transaction tracker at TFC Republic is a special feature where we will list all of the roster additions and cuts, trades, signings and re-signings, and transfers made by Toronto FC, and examine what each move means for the club moving forward.

It's a great way to keep tabs on what Toronto FC is doing and how it's building its roster, as we look at each transaction in a bit of detail. To view the full transaction tracker, click on the link below:

Feb. 22, 2025: Reds sign Arsenal under-21 captain   

Toronto FC signs defender Zane Monlouis from English club Arsenal FC to a two-year deal through 2026 with options for 2027 and 2028. 

Quick analysis: Toronto FC badly needed to reinforce its back line after conceding 61 goals during the 2025 MLS season, two more than the previous year. 

Rather than get a more experienced player to compliment veterans Kevin Long and Henry Wingo, the Reds have turned to Zane Monlouis, a 21-year-old English defender who has represented his country at the under-15 and under-17 levels. He's also been called up by the Jamaican under-23 side. Monlouis was on trial with the club during the pre-season. 

TFC also announced on Saturday it acquired a 2025 international roster slot from the Houston Dynamo for $300,000 US in general allocation money ($200,000 GAM in 2025 and $100,000 GAM in 2026).

"Zane joins us from Arsenal FC, one of the top club environments in Europe. At just 21 years old, he has already gained a variety of playing experience in the U.K. His skill set both on and off the ball will be an asset to our defence, and we look forward to his continued growth and integration with our first team," GM Jason Hernandez said in a media release. 

Monlouis joined Arsenal's youth academy in May 2012 and went on to sign his first professional contract with the Gunners in October 2020. In total, made 99 appearances with Arsenal's under-18, under-21 and under-23 teams, scoring three goals for the 18s and captaining the 21s. 

He has yet to make a single appearance for Arsenal at senior level. The closest he came was being included in the Gunners' matchday squad for a pair of UEFA Champions League matches in October vs. Shakhtar Donetsk and December vs. AS Monaco. He was an unused substitute in both contests. 

Monlouis had a brief loan spell with League One side Reading last season, making a single appearance for their senior side and one appearance for their under-21 team.  

Given Monlouis' lack of first team action, this move represents a gamble by Toronto FC, who you'd have thought would have gone after someone with experience under the belt, especially after the way it conceded goals in 2024. 

But Hernandez, coach Robin Fraser and MLSE president and CEO Keith Pelley have talked about the team needing to become younger and more athletic in order to deal with the rigours of MLS. With this in mind, the signing of Monlouis makes sense.  

Thus far, Hernandez has brought in five new players this off-season: Monlouis, goalkeeper Adisa De Rosario, TFC 2 prospect Markus Cimermancic, Canadian international Theo Corbeanu, and Norwegian forward Ola Brynhildsen. None of them are over the age of 25, so it would appear that Hernandez wasn't just paying lip service when speaking about a youth movement, and is genuinely trying to make this team younger. 

That could have positive ramifications off the field, too. Cultivating young players can potentially drive up their value in the international market and if TFC could sell a few of them, they can then convert the transfer fee into general allocation money, thus providing them with more salary room and options to improve their roster. 

It should also be said that taking a risk on a young defender worked out for the Reds last season when they signed Nicksoen Gomis from English club Sheffield United FC. Gomis had very little first team experience when he came to Toronto, but the French defender proved to be one of the Reds' most consistent defensive performers last year when he was healthy. 

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