By Canadian Press

Toronto FC acquires Haiti international Derrick Etienne Jr in deal with Atlanta

Apr 24, 2024 | 9:12 AM

Toronto FC added to its attack Wednesday by acquiring Haiti international winger Derrick Etienne Jr. from Atlanta United FC in exchange for up to US$375,000 in general allocation money.

Some US$175,000 of the allocation money is conditional on certain performance-based metrics.

The eight-year MLS veteran has 17 goals and 19 assists over 171 regular-season appearances, including 89 starts, with the New York Red Bulls, FC Cincinnati (on loan during the 2019 season), Columbus Crew and Atlanta.

Etienne made US$676,250 last season, according to the MLS Players Association. But he will only count the senior minimum charge (US$89,716) against the Toronto salary cap with Atlanta covering half of his salary in 2026, according to a TFC spokesperson.

He won the Supporters’ Shield  with the Red Bulls in 2018 and the MLS Cup and Campeones Cup with Columbus in 2020 and 2021, respectively. 

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But Etienne has appeared in just two league games for Atlanta this season, logging 25 minutes off the bench,

Born in Richmond, Va., the 27-year-old is the son of former Haiti international Derrick Etienne.

He joined the Red Bulls academy as an under-14 player and signed a homegrown player contract in December 2015, making his MLS debut against D.C. United in September 2016.

At the international level, Etienne has eight goals and seven assists in 41 appearances for Haiti since making his senior debut against French Guiana in a Caribbean Cup qualifier in November 2016. Etienne also previously represented Haiti at the youth level, featuring at the 2013 CONCACAF U-17 Championship in Panama and 2015 CONCACAF U-20 Championship in Jamaica.

While the MLS’s primary transfer window closed Tuesday, deals sometimes take time to filter through the league office.

Toronto GM Jason Hernandez said Monday that the club was looking to bring a player in and move one out prior to the window closing. He said the two moves were not related.

Toronto (4-4-1) stands fifth in the Eastern Conference.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 24, 2024.

Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press