TORONTO — Regardless of having beforehand traded away its first-round choose, Toronto FC managed to seek out some worth within the MLS SuperDraft.
TFC’s haul produced an athletic centre again, versatile midfielder and Liberian worldwide winger.
After dealing the ninth total choice to growth San Diego FC final week within the deal that netted Brazilian winger Thiago Andrade, Toronto noticed one thing it preferred and bought D.C. United’s twenty third total choose for the cut price value of US$50,000 common allocation cash, with one other US$50,000 in conditional GAM.
Toronto used the choose to take San Diego State defender Reid Fisher in Friday’s three-round draft.
“It all kind of came together. As the picks came off the board and he was still around … someone we really wanted to try and capitalize on,” mentioned Toronto technical director Sean Rubio.
“We had a short list, a very short list of guys that we said ‘Look, if these guys start to fall down the board for one reason or another, we would explore an opportunity to get back into the first round, later into the first round,’” he added.
Sullivan, a 20-year-old from Huntington Seaside, Calif., was named to each the All-WAC first staff and the United Soccer Coaches’ All-Far West Area first staff after serving to the Aztecs lead the Western Athletic Convention in shutouts per recreation, goals-allowed common and pictures on targets allowed per recreation.
“He’s a traditional centre back — aggressive, athletic, comfortable on the ball, soft feet, likes to get into duels. Excellent in the air,” mentioned Rubio. “Just a really interesting profile and prospect for us as we kind of continue to build this thing out.”
The six-foot-three defender led San Diego State in minutes in every of the final two seasons and was the Pac-12 Freshman of the Yr and a Freshmen all-American in 2023. He had two targets and two assists by means of 35 appearances (all begins) over three seasons with the Aztecs.
Toronto then took versatile Pittsburgh midfielder Michael Sullivan within the second spherical (thirty ninth total) and Dayton winger Joseph Melto Quiah, who goes by Joseph Melto, within the third (69th total).
Sullivan logged 3,500 minutes for the Panthers, making 64 appearances with 41 begins accumulating six targets and two assists whereas enjoying quite a lot of positions within the backline and midfield.
The six-foot Sullivan is the tenth Pitt participant drafted since 2018.
“Pitt’s a bit of a factory. They play a really good brand of football,” mentioned Rubio. “They’ve had quite a lot of gamers which have gone on and had strong skilled careers. It’s program to come back out of.
“And for Michael, it took him a while to become an established starter with the group but he got that opportunity this season and really never let go.”
The 21-year-old from Tarentum, Penn., performed in 19 video games (17 begins) as a senior, serving to the Panthers win the Atlantic Coast Convention common season title for the primary time.
“A player we’re really excited about,” mentioned Rubio, who envisions Sullivan in a central midfield position.
Melto, 20, spent three seasons on the College of Dayton with 14 targets and 16 assists in 47 appearances (43 begins).
As a senior, Melto earned First Group All-Atlantic 10, First Group All-Area, Atlantic 10 All-Championship Group honours in 2024 and was additionally named to the all-America Second Group by the United Soccer Coaches, marking a primary in program historical past.
“A really interesting prospect,” mentioned Rubio.
Melto represented Liberia at youth ranges and made his senior worldwide debut on the age of 16 in a pleasant towards Egypt in September 2021. He had different alternatives to take the sector for 145th-ranked Liberia however declined attributable to college commitments, in line with Rubio.
“A pretty electric attacking player taking players on one versus one. Probably most comfortable on the left side, cutting into his favoured right foot. Someone that we definitely didn’t expect to be around in the third round … I got a chance to see him live as well and he caused a lot of problems for some pretty good college players throughout the season.”
“He doesn’t look much faster off the ball than on the ball,” he added.
Melto may play wingback though Toronto’s want for such will depend upon the formation favoured by whoever succeeds John Herdman as coach.
Toronto has had restricted success in recent times on the draft.
Trinidad and Tobago wingback Tyrese Spicer impressed when wholesome this season, as one would possibly anticipate from the primary total choose final December. And goalkeeper Luka Gavran was a high quality pickup within the second spherical (thirty first total) in 2022.
Ahead Charlie Sharp, taken within the third spherical (61st total) within the 2023 draft, stays a promising work in progress.
Notre Dame defender Brandon Aubrey has turned heads since going twenty first total to Toronto within the 2017 draft. Sadly for TFC, it has been as a placekicker for the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Dec. 21, 2024
Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press
