Top Stories

Toronto FC sign Dutch international Gregory van der Wiel

Toronto FC have added a Dutch international defender in the form of Gregory van der Wiel.

The defending champs bought the 29-year-old from Cagliari in Italy’s Serie A using Targeted Allocation Money.

“We are excited to bring Gregory van der Wiel to Toronto FC. He is an experienced player that has played with some big clubs in Europe and has represented his country at multiple international tournaments,” said Toronto FC Sr. Vice-President, Soccer Operations & General Manager Tim Bezbatchenko.

“Gregory has a great defensive sense and will provide an upside on the ball with his strong distribution when in the attacking third. He will be a welcomed addition to our club as we continue to strive to improve as a team.”

Van der Wiel is quite well traveled. He opened his career in 2007 with Ajax, where he spent seven seasons before making the move to French giants Paris Saint-Germain. He also spent a brief period at Fenerbahce before transferring over to Cagliari last summer.

He has 46 caps with the Dutch national team and was a starter in their back line during their run to the 2010 World Cup Final.

Comments

  1. Because Toronto isn’t stacked enough already. Needs even more, better players to make Jozy and MB90 look like all stars.

    Reply
    • I really don’t think the biggest sports conglomerate in Canada – Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment, who also own the Blue Jays, Raptors, CFL Argonauts, and of course, the Maple Leafs in the NHL – as well as Toronto FC – would be engaged in a conspiracy to promote a couple of AMERICAN stars beyond their actual ability level.

      The club built around those two and Giovinco, put the appropriate pieces around them, and have duly won a ton of games. The proof’s in the pudding – on the professional level, anyhow, the Toronto DP’s have certainly delivered.

      Disappointing it didn’t translate to the national team level as well as we would have liked, but Toronto FC is without question the class of MLS at the moment.

      Reply
  2. When you consider his age, the teams he’s played for, and his international career, this has to be one of the biggest signings ever in MLS.

    Reply

Leave a Reply to whammmm Cancel reply