TFC Republic Weekly: January 27-February 2
The 2025 season is less than a month away and GM Jason Hernandez still has plenty of work to do to fill out Toronto FC's roster.
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...
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
John Molinaro
Spanish sojourn continues for Toronto FC
Robin Fraser is still getting his feet under him as coach for Toronto FC after only being officially hired on Jan. 10.
Shortly after taking over the reins, the new bench boss said he wanted to focus on imparting his philosophy and principles to his team during the first leg of pre-season training camp in Spain. Thus far, he's been "quite pleased" with what he's seen from a lot of the players while putting them through their paces in Marbella.
"We're obviously in the process of getting to know each other; meaning the players knowing me and the staff and what we're trying to accomplish, and us getting to know the players and their tendencies, how they think, how they move, how they relate to each other," Fraser told reporters last Friday.
"It's been good, but it's always interesting when you start a new project and new entities come together. But I think it's gone really well, and I think they're getting a good grasp of what it is we're trying to do."
He added: "It's actually funny: On some days, I think maybe it's less than I expected, and some days, I'm really pleasantly surprised that it's more than I expected.
John Molinaro
Robin Fraser mum on potential new players for Reds
TFC have 25 players under contract for the 2025 MLS season, with the only off-season addition so far being the acquisition of Canadian international Theo Corbeanu on loan from Spanish club Granada CF.
It's no secret that Toronto needs help up front in the form of a go-to striker. The Reds had one of the worst attacking units in MLS last season with just 40 goals. Top scorer Prince Owusu signed with CF Montreal this month, and TFC have yet to replace him.
GM Jason Hernandez told reporters earlier this month that he expected to sign a new striker before the start of the regular season. But Robin Fraser was mum on the subject of possible roster additions when asked about it by TFC Republic last Friday.
"I really can't [give an update], just because I know that there are a number of things being bantered about. I don't know where a lot of them are. I just know that we've heard different names of different players, and I think that's probably more of a Jason [Hernandez] question," Fraser said.
John Molinaro
TFC extends Luka Gavran through 2027
Toronto FC announced last week it re-signed goalkeeper Luka Gavran to a new contract through 2027 with a club option for 2028.
The re-signing of Gavran continues a pattern from GM Jason Hernandez of extending important Toronto FC players before their current deals expire. Gavran, a 24-year-old native from Hamilton, Ont., was going to be out of contract at the end of this season after TFC picked up his option at the conclusion of the 2024 MLS campaign.
But rather than wait until the end of this year to begin contract talks, the club wisely locked him early on for two more seasons, similar to how they re-signed midfielder Alonso Coello earlier this month.
Gavran stepped up when called upon last season, admirably filling in for starting goalkeeper Sean Johnson while he was injured or away with the United States on international duty. Gavran made 13 appearances in all competitions with four clean sheets and looked comfortable between the posts in his first full campaign in MLS.
John Molinaro
Pre-season schedule for the Reds
TFC are still in Spain and will continue to train at the Marbella Football Center until Feb. 3 for the first leg of pre-season training camp.
The team will then return to Toronto on Feb. 4 before heading to Palm Beach, Fla., on Feb. 10 to continue camp through Feb. 21.
So far, TFC have four exhibition games on their schedule: Norwegian club Fredrikstad FK (Jan. 30, Marbella), Sweden's BK Häcken (Feb. 3, Marbella), Colorado Rapids (Feb. 11, Palm Beach), Columbus Crew (Feb. 15, Palm Beach).
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 must be roster and budget compliant by this date. Teams also have to declare which roster model they plan to use by this date.
TFC plays their season opener away to D.C. United at Audi Field on Feb. 22.
The Reds host the Chicago Fire in their home opener on March 15.
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.
RELATED READING: News | Features | Match reports | Newsletter | Opinion | Q&As | Roster moves | TFC 2 | Audio | Videos
Stories to look out for at TFC Republic
The 2025 regular season is less than a month away and GM Jason Hernandez still has plenty of work to do to fill out Toronto's squad. Where do things stand with TFC's roster? What holes still have to be filled? What moves are still to come? I'll have a feature that takes an in-depth look at the current state of Toronto FC's roster in the coming days.
Other stories that will be published later this week include:
- A few pieces on new Toronto FC coach Robin Fraser.
- A new TFC Talk audio interview with Toronto FC beat reporter James Grossi.
- A feature story on TFC midfielder Alonso Coello.
- A Q&A with former TFC midfielder and MLS rookie of the year Maurice Edu.
- 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.
