By RYAN TOLMICH
After a disappointing 2014 season, the changes have begun at Toronto FC.
TFC announced on Wednesday that defenders Doneil Henry and Bradley Orr will return to Cyrpus’ Apollon Limassol and England’s Blackburn Rovers, respectively.
Henry’s move to Cyprus comes after a controversial secret sale of the defender, who was on-loan with Toronto FC for the duration of the 2014 season.
TFC also announced that the club would not be picking up options on defender Ryan Richter, midfielder Jeremy Hall and forwards Dwayne De Rosario and Andrew Wiedeman. In addition, forward Bright Dike’s contract is set to expire at the conclusion of the season.
“Establishing a core group of players is vital for success in MLS,” said Toronto FC General Manager Tim Bezbatchenko, “and we are confident in the group of players that will be returning to Toronto FC next season.
Here are some more news and notes from around MLS:
DJALO LINKED TO MOVE TO ORLANDO CITY
After spending 2014 on loan with the San Jose Earthquakes, Yannick Djalo has been linked with a move to a different MLS club.
Djalo, who is currently with Portuguese side Benfica, has been linked with a January move to Orlando City, with whom Benfica has an existing partnership.
The 28-year-old winger’s move is reportedly due to his current contract, which Portuguese clubs have deemed unaffordable. Djalo scored three goals in 17 games for the Earthquakes in 2014.
FIRE SIGN TRINIDAD & TOBAGO DEFENDER JONES
The Chicago Fire’s quick start to the offseason has continued with another new signing.
Just one day after signing Nigerian forward Kennedy Igboananike, the Fire announced on Wednesday that the club has signed Trinidadian defender Joevin Jones ahead of the 2015 season.
“We’re pleased that Joevin will be joining the Fire,” said Fire head coach Frank Yallop. “He’s a versatile player and is a great addition as we build a squad that will compete in 2015.”
Jones most recently featured for Finland’s HJK Helsinki while on loan from W Connection FC of the TT Pro League. In addition, Jones has earned 37 international caps since making his debut with T&T in 2010.
CREW RE-SIGN ANOR, MERAM
Midfielders Bernardo Anor and Justin Meram are set to remain with the Columbus Crew after proving to be key parts of the club’s run to the postseason.
The Crew announced on Tuesday that Anor and Meram have been re-signed to new deals after both players posted career bests in goalscoring.
“Justin Meram and Bernardo Anor – along with Ethan Finlay and Hector Jimenez who were previously re-signed – did a good job of increasing their value throughout the League as they all played important roles for us during the season,” said sporting director and head coach Gregg Berhalter. “They proved to us that they could score goals in this league. Re-signing Justin and Bernardo gives us the flexibility to have numerous options in that position and attacking quality in the midfield line.”
The pair of re-signings see the Crew stand with 25 players on their current roster as negotiations with defender Eric Gehrig continue.
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What do you think of TFC’s moves? How would Djalo fit in with Orlando City as it stands? Excited by the Fire’s early moves?
Share your thoughts below.
When I first read the headline, I only saw “Henry set for Cyprus”… A rather odd choice.
Hard to say how Djalo fits in with Orlando at the moment because they don’t even have any winger/forward depth to look at, but I think he could be a good with Orlando. The Benfica partnership definitely adds a little to this rumor, and the fact that he played under Mark Watson, who is now a coach in Orlando, in San Jose could probably mean something, too.
He’s hurt a lot. Don’t like the move. OC can do better.
Dwayne De Rosario leaves TFC…. again.
Very incomplete story. When does he come back ?