Report: Toronto make offer for Venezuelan winger Yeferson Soteldo

UPDATE (April 25, 3 pm ET): It appears Toronto FC are nearing closer to landing Venezuelan national team winger, with Santos FC agreeing to sell Yeferson Soteldo after obtaining the FIFA-imposed transfer ban release, club president Andres Rueda said.

The club reportedly owed back payments to Chilean club Huachipato upon acquiring Soteldo in 2019. Santos FC transferred its part of the sale to Huachipato and will pay an additional $500K in installments. Santos retain 12.5 percent of future sales

TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Reports

Toronto FC have submitted a $6 million offer for Santos and Venezuela national team winger Yeferson Soteldo, according to reports from Brazilian outlets Globo Esporte and A Tribuna, as well as South American journalist Cesar Luis Merlo.

As their stories outline, the Reds would then acquire 75% of the 23-year-old’s rights and likely use their open Designated Player slot on him. Toronto’s other two DPs are attacking midfielder Alejandro Pozuelo, the reigning Landon Donovan MLS MVP, and forward Jozy Altidore.

But there could be a financial maze Toronto need to navigate, with Santos reportedly owing back payments to Chilean club Huachipato upon acquiring Soteldo in 2019. In other words, the path to MLS could have a hurdle or two to clear.

Since landing at the Brazilian Serie A side, Soteldo has 18 goals and 16 assists in 85 matches across all competitions. He also has three goals and three assists in 25 Copa Libertadores matches, reaching that combined point via Santos and previous stops at Venezuelan side Zamora and Universidad de Chile (loan).

On the international stage, Soteldo has one goal and three assists in 19 appearances for La Vinotinto. He featured at Copa America 2019 and is part of Venezuela’s current World Cup qualifying ambitions in the Conmebol region.

Soteldo, who’s listed at 5-foot-2, can play centrally or on the wing. And Toronto are no stranger to diminutive attackers, with Sebastian Giovinco (now with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal) starring from 2015-18 and Joao Plata (now with Liga MX’s Toluca) getting his MLS start there in 2011.