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National Post
11-07-2025
- Sport
- National Post
After battling leukemia, Tsubasa Endoh signs one-day contract to retire as TFC player
Tsubasa Endoh comes full circle Saturday when he retires as a Toronto FC player. Article content After being diagnosed with acute undifferentiated leukemia in December 2021, the 31-year-old winger from Japan had a dream. Article content Article content 'Every step of the treatment, every setback, the time that I had to spend in the hospital, I always dreamed of coming back to play here, as a TFC player, at BMO Field,' said Endoh, who spent six seasons (2016-21) with Toronto. Article content But while his leukemia is in remission, it has taken a toll on his body — and he has not reached the five-year milestone. Article content Time for Plan B. Article content Toronto announced Friday that it has signed Endoh to a one-day contract to officially retire as a TFC player. Endoh will be honoured before Saturday's game against Atlanta United, delivering the match ball. Article content 'It is truly a special moment for Toronto FC to have Tsubasa come back and officially retire as a Red,' Toronto GM Jason Hernandez said in a statement. 'The club wanted to give him this recognition for all his contributions over six years and celebrate his career.' Article content When Endoh entered Toronto's training centre Thursday, he was greeted by players and staff lined up in the lobby. Article content 'That really gave me goosebumps. That shows what this club is about,' he said. 'It's all about the people who you work with.' Article content After four seasons at the University of Maryland, the Japanese youth international was taken by Toronto in the first round (ninth overall) of the 2016 MLS SuperDraft. Article content After his TFC contract expired following the 2021 season. Endoh signed with Melbourne City FC in Australia's A-League in early 2022. Later that year, he joined the Los Angeles Galaxy reserve side, scoring twice on his debut. Article content It was while in L.A., that his body started malfunctioning. Blood work showed an alarming white blood cell count. A trip to the ER turned into an eight-day hospital stay during which he was told he may have cancer. Article content Endoh returned to Japan to be with family, and it was there that he was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia. Article content The five-foot-six Endoh played at 146 pounds and, while still sporting a smile, looks a little more slight these days. Article content Asked about his health these days, Endoh manages to be both upbeat and realistic having already had to deal with a relapse. Article content 'It's OK,' he said, before listing some of the issues he is dealing with. Article content They include chronic GvHDs (graft-versus-host disease), a systemic disorder occurring when immune cells from transplanted tissue recognize the recipient's body as foreign and attack its cells.
CTV News
01-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Toronto FC buys out hefty contracts of Italy's Insigne, Bernardeschi
Toronto FC forward Federico Bernardeschi (10) and New England Revolution forward Leonardo Campana (9) argue during first half MLS soccer action in Toronto, Saturday, May 3, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn TORONTO — Toronto FC is parting ways with Italian designated players Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi, ending an expensive and unsuccessful partnership. The struggling Major League Soccer club said their contracts had been mutually terminated, with TFC using its two permitted buyouts of their guaranteed deals. 'After several meaningful discussions, we are happy to have found a solution that is agreeable to all parties involved,' Toronto GM Jason Hernandez said in a brief statement Tuesday. The two Italian designated players arrived to much fanfare — with paycheques to match — midway through the 2022 season. But they could not return the club to its former glory. Insigne, 34, was making US$15.4 million this season, second only to Lionel Messi's US$20.5 million. Bernardeschi, 31, was earning US$6.295 million this season, sixth-best in MLS. Insigne's contract ran through June 2026 with an option for the remainder of the year, while Bernardeschi's deal covered 2026 with option years through 2028. It was not money well spent. Toronto (4-10-5) currently sits 13th in the 15-team Eastern Conference, four places and 11 points below the playoff line, and 26th overall in the 30-team league. It has not made the playoffs since 2020, when it stumbled at the first hurdle. Their departure means Toronto is without a designated player, with two such spots available. Under MLS roster rules, a designated player aged at least 24 only carries a salary budget charge of US$743,750, no matter how much they are paid. 'The designated player strategy is a critical component to Toronto FC's success in Major League Soccer and the club will continue to prioritize TFC's short-, medium- and long-term strategy in the weeks ahead,' said MLSE president and CEO Keith Pelley. Insigne scored 19 goals and added 18 assists in 76 games for Toronto across all competitions. That includes one goal and three assists in 12 appearances this season. Bernardeschi scored 26 goals and added 22 assists in 99 appearances across all competitions. An all-star in 2024, he has four goals and four assists through 15 matches this season. Bernardeschi offered a parting message via social media. 'Every single day on the pitch, I gave everything I had. All my passion. All my drive. All of myself. I never held back,' he wrote. 'I gave everything for this shirt, for this city, for its fans.' 'Now a new journey begins for me,' he added. 'A new chapter, a new challenge. But the bond with this city, with its people, will forever live in my heart. Toronto FC, MLS: thank you for this extraordinary adventure. This is not goodbye. It's see you soon.' Bernardeschi has been linked to a move to Italy's Bologna. Insigne sat out the last two TFC games. He did not make it off the bench in a 1-1 draw with the New York Red Bulls and did not dress for Saturday's 3-0 win over Portland. At the time, Toronto coach Robin Fraser said the club wanted to give other players a chance. Toronto sat Insigne for the first four games of this season after failed attempts to move him to clubs in Italy, Spain, Turkey and Brazil. Insigne kept training with the first team while out of favour. 'It wasn't a happy time for me,' he told The Canadian Press in May. 'But I'm not going to keep thinking about it.' 'I've always been happy here, and as long as my contract lasts, I'm going to do the best I can to make us win,' he added. The club eventually returned him to action, but with one goal and three assists in 12 league outings, he did not make much of an impact. Bernardeschi has not played since May 24 when he picked up a fifth yellow card that earned him a one-game suspension. He missed the last three games with what Fraser described as a 'lingering' injury. At his best, the flamboyant Bernardeschi was a sight to behold, marauding down the wing and heading towards goal, looking to unleash his dangerous left boot. But with 26 yellow and four red cards in 88 league appearances, he was also volatile and somewhat unreliable. Insigne showed only flashes of past brilliance that earned him the nickname 'Il Magnifico.' Injuries and family health issues did not help. Unlike Bernardeschi, who was able to converse in English, Insigne's limited language skills meant his side of the story was rarely heard. In May, however, he said he was going to finish out his contract. 'With the money I earn, I could just sit down, I could have said, 'Who cares? I make a lot of money. I don't have to do anything,'' Insigne said in an interview with The Canadian Press. 'But that's not who I am. I'm going to always, every day, come and work hard. And as long as my contract's here, that is my goal at the end — I'm here to work hard and respect everybody.' Hopes were high when the two made their debut in July 2022, when Bernardeschi scored one goal and set up another and Insigne collected a stylish assist in a 4-0 romp over expansion Charlotte FC. The Italians' debut drew an announced sellout of 29,067, well above the average of 23,676 over the previous 11 home matches that season. Compare that to the 14,019 that Toronto drew this season for a 1-0 home loss to FC Cincinnati on May 14. The two Italians reportedly bumped heads with former coach Bob Bradley. John Herdman, who succeeded Bradley. converted Bernardeschi to wingback with Fraser returning him to his more accustomed winger position. Bernardeschi arrived with a Grade-A resume. 'We are thrilled to add Federico to our team,' said Bill Manning, TFC's president at the time. 'As a player and a person, we believe he's exactly what we need right now, both on the field and in the locker room. Federico has proven himself to be a champion and a leader at Juventus and for the Italian national team and brings a pedigree to Toronto that's second to none.' Manning, fired by Pelley in July as president of TFC and the Toronto Argonauts, famously said he settled on insigne after seeing the local interest in Italy's run to the European championship. 'I actually went to the Transfermarkt website and I looked up the Italian national team on what players were coming out of contract,' Manning told reporters. 'And Lorenzo was one of the few players that was coming out of contract. I started writing down players that I thought were world-class, that I thought would have commercial value in this market.' Insigne arrived from Napoli, where he captained the side. He made a combined 416 appearances for the Serie A club, scoring 114 goals with 95 assists across all competitions. He scored 10 goals in 53 appearances for Italy. But he never seemed to find a fit with Toronto. Bernardeschi arrived from Juventus, where he had spent five seasons after joining from Fiorentina. He scored six goals in 38 appearances for the Italian national team, including the winning penalty in the shootout to seal Italy's win over England in the 2020 UEFA European Championship final (played in 2021). This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 1, 2025 Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press
CBC
01-07-2025
- Business
- CBC
Arrivederci. Toronto FC buys out hefty contracts of Italy's Insigne, Bernardeschi
Toronto FC is parting ways with Italian designated players Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi, ending an expensive and unsuccessful partnership. The struggling Major League Soccer club said their contracts had been mutually terminated, with TFC using its two permitted buyouts of their guaranteed deals. "After several meaningful discussions, we are happy to have found a solution that is agreeable to all parties involved," Toronto GM Jason Hernandez said in a brief statement Tuesday. The two Italian designated players arrived to much fanfare — with paycheques to match — midway through the 2022 season. But they could not return the club to its former glory. Insigne, 34, was making $15.4 million US this season, second only to Lionel Messi's $20.5 million. Bernardeschi, 31, was earning $6.295 million this season, sixth-best in MLS. Insigne's contract ran through June 2026 with an option for the remainder of the year, while Bernardeschi's deal covered 2026 with option years through 2028. It was not money well spent. Playoff struggles Toronto (4-10-5) currently sits 13th in the 15-team Eastern Conference, four places and 11 points below the playoff line, and 26th overall in the 30-team league. It has not made the playoffs since 2020, when it stumbled at the first hurdle. Their departure means Toronto is without a designated player, with two such spots available. Under MLS roster rules, a designated player aged at least 24 only carries a salary budget charge of $743,750, no matter how much they are paid. "The designated player strategy is a critical component to Toronto FC's success in Major League Soccer and the club will continue to prioritize TFC's short-, medium- and long-term strategy in the weeks ahead," said MLSE president and CEO Keith Pelley. Insigne scored 19 goals and added 18 assists in 76 games for Toronto across all competitions. That includes one goal and three assists in 12 appearances this season. Bernardeschi scored 26 goals and added 22 assists in 99 appearances across all competitions. An all-star in 2024, he has four goals and four assists through 15 matches this season. Bernardeschi offered a parting message via social media. "Every single day on the pitch, I gave everything I had. All my passion. All my drive. All of myself. I never held back," he wrote. "I gave everything for this shirt, for this city, for its fans." "Now a new journey begins for me," he added. "A new chapter, a new challenge. But the bond with this city, with its people, will forever live in my heart. Toronto FC, MLS: thank you for this extraordinary adventure. This is not goodbye. It's see you soon." Bernardeschi has been linked to a move to Italy's Bologna. Insigne sat out the last two TFC games. He did not make it off the bench in a 1-1 draw with the New York Red Bulls and did not dress for Saturday's 3-0 win over Portland. At the time, Toronto coach Robin Fraser said the club wanted to give other players a chance. Toronto sat Insigne for the first four games of this season after failed attempts to move him to clubs in Italy, Spain, Turkey and Brazil. Insigne kept training with the first team while out of favour. "It wasn't a happy time for me," he told The Canadian Press in May. "But I'm not going to keep thinking about it." "I've always been happy here, and as long as my contract lasts, I'm going to do the best I can to make us win," he added. The club eventually returned him to action, but with one goal and three assists in 12 league outings, he did not make much of an impact. Bernardeschi has not played since May 24 when he picked up a fifth yellow card that earned him a one-game suspension. He missed the last three games with what Fraser described as a "lingering" injury. At his best, the flamboyant Bernardeschi was a sight to behold, marauding down the wing and heading towards goal, looking to unleash his dangerous left boot. But with 26 yellow and four red cards in 88 league appearances, he was also volatile and somewhat unreliable. Insigne showed only flashes of past brilliance that earned him the nickname "Il Magnifico." Injuries and family health issues did not help. Unlike Bernardeschi, who was able to converse in English, Insigne's limited language skills meant his side of the story was rarely heard. In May, however, he said he was going to finish out his contract. "With the money I earn, I could just sit down, I could have said, 'Who cares? I make a lot of money. I don't have to do anything,"' Insigne said in an interview with The Canadian Press. "But that's not who I am. I'm going to always, every day, come and work hard. And as long as my contract's here, that is my goal at the end — I'm here to work hard and respect everybody." Hopes were high when the two made their debut in July 2022, when Bernardeschi scored one goal and set up another and Insigne collected a stylish assist in a 4-0 romp over expansion Charlotte FC. The Italians' debut drew an announced sellout of 29,067, well above the average of 23,676 over the previous 11 home matches that season. Compare that to the 14,019 that Toronto drew this season for a 1-0 home loss to FC Cincinnati on May 14. The two Italians reportedly bumped heads with former coach Bob Bradley. John Herdman, who succeeded Bradley. converted Bernardeschi to wingback with Fraser returning him to his more accustomed winger position. Bernardeschi arrived with a Grade-A resume. "We are thrilled to add Federico to our team," said Bill Manning, TFC's president at the time. "As a player and a person, we believe he's exactly what we need right now, both on the field and in the locker room. Federico has proven himself to be a champion and a leader at Juventus and for the Italian national team and brings a pedigree to Toronto that's second to none." Manning, fired by Pelley in July as president of TFC and the Toronto Argonauts, famously said he settled on Insigne after seeing the local interest in Italy's run to the European championship. "I actually went to the Transfermarkt website and I looked up the Italian national team on what players were coming out of contract," Manning told reporters. "And Lorenzo was one of the few players that was coming out of contract. I started writing down players that I thought were world-class, that I thought would have commercial value in this market." Insigne arrived from Napoli, where he captained the side. He made a combined 416 appearances for the Serie A club, scoring 114 goals with 95 assists across all competitions. He scored 10 goals in 53 appearances for Italy. But he never seemed to find a fit with Toronto. Bernardeschi arrived from Juventus, where he had spent five seasons after joining from Fiorentina. He scored six goals in 38 appearances for the Italian national team, including the winning penalty in the shootout to seal Italy's win over England in the 2020 UEFA European Championship final (played in 2021).
Al Arabiya
01-07-2025
- Business
- Al Arabiya
Toronto Cuts High-Priced Wingers Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi
Major League Soccer's Toronto FC cut its two-highest paid players, announcing mutual agreements Tuesday to terminate the contracts of wingers Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi. Insigne, MLS's highest-paid player until Miami signed Lionel Messi in 2023, had guaranteed compensation of $15.4 million, second to Messi. Bernardeschi was sixth in the league at $6,295,381, and their combined salaries were 64 percent of Toronto's $34.1 million payroll, second to Miami's $46.8 million. For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app. 'After several meaningful discussions, we are happy to have found a solution that is agreeable to all parties involved,' Toronto general manager Jason Hernandez said in a statement. Both players joined Toronto in July 2022 – Insigne from Napoli and Bernardeschi from Juventus. Insigne, 34, had a contract through June 2026 with an option for the remainder of that year. Bernardeschi, 31, had a deal through 2026 with two option years. Insigne had 19 goals and 18 assists in 76 games in all competitions, including one goal and three assists in 12 appearances this season. Bernardeschi had 26 goals and 22 assists in 99 appearances, including four goals and four assists in 15 matches this season. He has not played since May 24. Toronto has four wins, 10 losses and five ties, 13th in the 15-team Eastern Conference and 26th among the 30 teams overall. It has not made the playoffs since 2020. Both were designated players whose salaries counted only as $743,750 each toward the team's salary budget.
Associated Press
01-07-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Toronto cuts high-priced wingers Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi
TORONTO (AP) — Major League Soccer's Toronto FC cut its two-highest paid players, announcing mutual agreements Tuesday to terminate the contracts of wingers Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi. Insigne, MLS's highest-paid player until Miami signed Lionel Messi in 2023, had guaranteed compensation of $15.4 million. second to Messi. Bernardeschi was sixth in the league at $6,295,381 and their combined salaries were 64% of Toronto's $34.1 million payroll, second to Miami's $46.8 million. 'After several meaningful discussions, we are happy to have found a solution that is agreeable to all parties involved,' Toronto general manager Jason Hernandez said in a statement. Both players joined Toronto in July 2022, Insigne from Napoli and Bernardeschi from Juventus. Insigne, 34, had a contract through June 2026 with an option for the remainder of that year. Bernardeschi, 31, had a deal through 2026 with two option years. Insigne had 19 goals and 18 assists in 76 games in all competitions, including one goal and three assists in 12 appearances this season. Bernardeschi had 26 goals and 22 assists in 99 appearances, including four goals and four assists in 15 matches this season. He has not played since May 24. Toronto has four wins, 10 losses and five ties, 13th in the 15-team Eastern Conference and 26th among the 30 teams overall. It has not made the playoffs since 2020. Both were designated players, whose salaries counted only as $743,750 each toward the team's salary budget. ___ AP soccer:
