Official: Toronto FC sign Richie Laryea on loan from Nottingham Forest

TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Signing

UPDATE (Aug. 5, 11:15 am ET) – Toronto FC have re-acquired Canadian international defender Richie Laryea, the club announced Friday. He joins on loan from English Premier League side Nottingham Forrest through the summer of 2023.

To complete the deal for Laryea, TFC made the following transactions:

• Traded $175,000 in 2022 General Allocation Money (GAM) and $50,000 in 2023 GAM to FC Dallas for the second overall spot in the MLS Allocation Order.
• Traded $50,000 in 2022 GAM and $75,000 in 2023 GAM and the second overall spot to FC Cincinnati in order to obtain the first overall position in the Allocation Order.
• As part of the transaction, FC Cincinnati will also receive additional conditional GAM if certain incentives are met.

“It’s great to bring Richie back to the club,” Toronto head coach and sporting director Bob Bradley said in a release. “As everyone knows by now, Richie established himself as one of the best outside backs in the league. He’s a dynamic player, a fantastic dribbler, and a real competitor. To have Richie back in his hometown to play for TFC ahead of Canada’s trip to the World Cup is exciting."

Laryea spent the 2019-21 seasons with Toronto before being transferred last January to Nottingham Forest, which he helped earn promotion from England’s second division. He played in five matches overseas.

“I am very excited to have the opportunity to be back with TFC and play in front of our fans at BMO Field,” said Laryea. “I know it’s an important time for the club as we push for the playoffs, and I want to help the team achieve success.”

Laryea has earned 30 caps with one goal with two assists for Canada, a key player as they head to the Qatar 2022 World Cup and compete in Group F.

ORIGINAL (Aug. 5, 9:15 am ET) – Toronto FC are set to re-add Canadian international fullback Richie Laryea, this time on loan from English Premier League side Nottingham Forest, head coach and sporting director Bob Bradley confirmed Thursday.

MLSsoccer.com’s Tom Bogert reports the Reds will complete a trade with FC Dallas to move up the Allocation Order and sign the defender.

Laryea originally joined Toronto in 2019 after playing for Orlando City SC, then was transferred to Nottingham Forest this past January for a reported $1 million fee. He helped them earn promotion from the Championship, though played in only five matches after heading across the pond.

Laryea, 27, would likely play at right back for Toronto as they’ve retooled their lineup during the Secondary Transfer Window (ended Thursday night) for a late-season Audi MLS Cup Playoffs push. He’d join two defensive newcomers in left back Domenico Criscito and center back Doneil Henry, the latter his international teammate with Canada.

Likely bound for Qatar 2022, Laryea played in all but one Concacaf Octagonal qualifier for Les Rouges as they booked the country’s first men’s World Cup ticket in 36 years. He’s scored once in 30 caps since debuting in 2019.

Laryea has recorded eight goals and eight assists in 88 regular-season MLS games (60 starts), seeing spot minutes with Orlando before soaring with Toronto the last three seasons.

With 11 matches to go, Toronto sit 13th in the Eastern Conference standings. They’re six points off the playoff pace, hoping a retooled roster spearheaded by DP forwards and Italian internationals Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi can book postseason soccer.

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