Toronto FC officially confirm Lorenzo Insigne signing: 6 takeaways
By Paul Taylor
Following the official announcement, we break down Toronto FC’s stunning signing of Italian international and Serie A star Lorenzo Insigne.
The wait is over for Toronto FC fans. After weeks of speculation, it has finally been confirmed Lorenzo Insigne will move to Southern Ontario once his current contract expires with Napoli.
The news was officially announced by TFC on Saturday morning. Here are six takeaways from arguably the most stunning signing in league history:
1) Contract length
At this stage, Toronto FC have not confirmed Insigne’s salary. However, it is expected to surpass Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s deal as the most expensive in MLS history.
What was confirmed by TFC is that Insigne’s contact is for four years, beginning on July 1 2022. This is interesting for a couple of reasons.
First, recent speculation had indicated the 30-year-old would sign for five and a half years. Second, the fact the deal is for four years means he would theoretically become a free agent halfway through the 2026 MLS season.
2) Global reputation for MLS
Insigne’s decision to sign for MLS will have sent shock waves around the football world. After all, we are talking about a Serie A and international footballer who is still in his prime, who just last year helped Italy win UEFA Euro 2020.
It will be intriguing to know what impact this has for MLS on the global stage. Will the winger’s signing convince more top level talent still in their prime to follow him over to North America?
For Toronto FC specifically, it’s feasible Insigne’s decision to join them will help with their pursuit of other talent. Recent reports already have them linked with his Italian teammates Andrea Belotti and Domenico Criscito, as well as Canadian international goalkeeper Milan Borjan.