TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Transfers
UPDATE (Jan. 31) – Toronto FC have signed Mexican international defender Carlos Salcedo from Liga MX's Tigres UANL as a Designated Player through 2024 with a 2025 option, the club announced Monday.
Concurrently, TFC have transferred Venezuelan international forward and Designated Player Yeferson Soteldo to Tigres UANL.
“Carlos is a fierce competitor who I have known since he was a young player with Real Salt Lake seven years ago," TFC president Bill Manning said in a release. “He has won numerous trophies including the German Cup with Eintracht Frankfurt and Concacaf Champions League with Tigres. Carlos is one of the top defenders in the Concacaf region and will immediately improve our backline as we build for 2022 and beyond.”
Salcedo, 28, spent the past four seasons with Tigres and had time in Europe at Fiorentina (Italian Serie A) and Eintracht Frankfurt (German Bundesliga).
“I am excited to return to the MLS and join a team that always wants to win and compete for titles,” Salcedo said in a release. “I look forward to playing in front of Toronto FC fans, making them proud and making history with the club.”
Soteldo, 24, made 26 all-competition appearances for Toronto with four goals and 10 assists last campaign. He spent under a year with the Reds after being signed from Brazil’s Santos FC.
In Salcedo, Toronto have a backline anchor as their new era begins under head coach and sporting director Bob Bradley.
“Carlos is an excellent defender with a strong mentality and his ability to play from the back will be important for us,” Bradley said in a release. “He has a track record as a winner and has played an important role on a very good Tigres team.”
ORIGINAL (Jan. 28) – Toronto FC have Lorenzo Insigne arriving as a Designated Player in July, and another could soon join the Reds’ 2022 MLS endeavors under new head coach and sporting director Bob Bradley.
The Athletic’s Sam Stejskal is reporting that a long-suspected deal for Mexican international defender Carlos Salcedo is complete, with the 28-year-old arriving as a DP from Liga MX side Tigres UANL.
Concurrently, Stejskal reports that current Toronto DP Yeferson Soteldo would join Tigres UANL in return. Soteldo, a Venezuelan international forward, didn’t quite meet expectations in 2021 upon arriving from Brazil’s Santos FC.
The move would give Toronto a backline anchor, with Salcedo’s résumé also including stints in Europe at Fiorentina (Italian Serie A) and Eintracht Frankfurt (German Bundesliga). He originally turned pro in 2013 with Real Salt Lake and has been capped 48 times by Mexico.
Toronto are retooling their backline, with MLS veteran center back Shane O’Neill acquired via free agency after two seasons with Seattle Sounders FC. They also transferred Canada international fullback Richie Laryea to English Championship side Nottingham Forest.
Last year, Soteldo had three goals and 10 assists in 24 games (19 starts) for Toronto. He’s been rumored to exit after the Reds finished second-from-bottom in the Eastern Conference last year.
It’s the latest development in Toronto’s DP situation, with striker Jozy Altidore also suspected to depart, possibly via a contract buyout. Alejandro Pozuelo, the 2020 Landon Donovan MLS MVP, projects as a key playmaker under Bradley.
Should the Salcedo/Soteldo swap be completed, Toronto would still need to shed another DP before Insigne arrives in the summer from Napoli. Club president Bill Manning, speaking after signing the Italian national team forward to a long-term deal, has assured that won’t be an issue.
