Brampton’s Ayo Akinola and Toronto FC agree to terminate contract

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Published May 7, 2024 at 12:26 pm

Brampton's Ayo Akinola and Toronto FC terminate contract
Toronto FC forward Ayo Akinola (20) heads the ball as New York Red Bulls forward Cameron Harper (17) defends and defender Dylan Nealis (12) looks on during second half MLS soccer action in Toronto on Wednesday, May 17, 2023. Canadian forward Akinola is leaving Toronto FC after agreeing to a mutual termination of his contract.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Brampton native Ayo Akinola is leaving Toronto FC after agreeing to a mutual termination of his contract.

The 24-year-old scored 18 goals in 96 appearances across all competitions since joining the MLS club in December 2017 as a homegrown player.

But he has been a forgotten figure of late at TFC, playing just 82 minutes across five league appearances.

Toronto loaned the Brampton forward to the San Jose Earthquakes last July for the remainder of the 2023 season.

Akinola turned heads at the 2020 MLS is Back Tournament in Orlando where he scored five goals, finishing behind only LAFC’s Diego Rossi in the scoring race. He scored a hat trick against CF Montreal, the third-youngest player in MLS history to manage the feat.

Akinola’s deal was part of the Major League Soccer U-22 Initiative which allows clubs to sign up to three young players, age 22 and younger, to “lucrative contracts at a reduced budget charge.”

The native of Brampton underwent surgery in August 2021 to repair an anterior cruciate ligament injured on international duty with Canada at the Gold Cup.

Akinola, who has won four caps for Canada, earned US$771,875 last season. His contract ran through this season with an option for 2025.

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