Jason Hernandez: U22 model 'made sense' for Toronto FC
In a 1-on-1 interview, the GM discusses why TFC went with the U22 Initiative Player model, the team's youth movement, and much more.
One of the more pressing decisions that GM Jason Hernandez had to make before Toronto FC even kicked a ball in 2025 pertained to which roster model the club would use for the start of the season.
Under the new league rules introduced last summer, teams had to choose one of two roster models. The first allows teams to sign as many as three designated players (DPs) and as many as three U22 Initiative players. The second allows teams to have up to two DPs and up to four U22 signings, while also receiving an additional $2 million US in general allocation money (GAM).
MLS clubs had to declare which model they were going to use this year before the start of the season. Teams can change models during the MLS secondary transfer window, which runs from July 24 to Aug. 21. But if they do that, they have to return $1 million in GAM.
In this one-on-one interview with TFC Republic, Hernandez discusses why Toronto FC went with the U22 Initiative Player model, the team's youth movement, the potential for more roster moves this season, the Lorenzo Insigne situation, and much more.
