By The Canadian Press

Canadian midfielder Emma Regan leaves the NSL’s AFC Toronto to join a NWSL team

Jan 13, 2026 | 8:00 AM

TORONTO — Midfielder Emma Regan’s breakthrough year with Canada and AFC Toronto has led to a transfer to an NWSL club.

In announcing the transfer Tuesday, Toronto did not specify the fee or Regan’s NWSL destination. But it is believed the 25-year-old from Burnaby, B.C., is headed to one of the NWSL expansion teams — either the Boston Legacy or Denver Summit, which both kick off play this year — for a fee similar to the $465,000 (250,000) pounds that the Portland Thorns reportedly paid to get Canada captain Jessie Fleming from England’s Chelsea in January 2024.

Forward Olivia Smith holds the Canadian women’s transfer record, moving to Arsenal from Liverpool in England’s Women’s Super League, for a then-world-record one million pounds ($1.87 million) last July.

“It’s definitely a little bit bittersweet,” Regan said of the move. “I really enjoyed my time at AFC Toronto and in Toronto in general. Definitely a big year for me and the club

“And I was really grateful to be part of our first season (in the Northern Super League). I think we will never forget that as Canadian soccer players. But I’m definitely excited for the next chapter.”

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AFC Toronto sporting director Billy Wilson says the move is good for Regan, his club and the NSL.

“I think it’s a really good opportunity for someone like Emma,” he said. “We’re really proud to have played a part in her journey.”

“The fee itself, for the women’s game, is substantial,” he added.

Regan turned heads last year when she appeared in 11 of Canada’s 13 matches, becoming a fixture at defensive midfielder under Canada coach Casey Stoney. That brought her total of senior caps to 15.

In June, she scored her first senior goal for Canada in a 4-1 win over Costa Rica.

At club level, Regan played every minute of every match (regular season and playoffs), captaining Toronto to first place in the regular-season standings and a place in the inaugural NSL championship game, where Toronto fell 2-1 to the Vancouver Rise.

Hard work and the chance to showcase her skills paid off.

“This year I was given a lot of opportunity, and I really tried my best to make the most of that,” she said. “But I think it’s been a long time coming. I’ve been working really hard for several years to get to where I am. Something definitely clicked (in 2025) for me.”

Regan was named NSL Midfielder of the Year and made the league’s Team of the Season, as voted on by the players, as well as earning AFC Toronto Player of the Season honours.

“Emma’s impact on this club cannot be overstated,” Toronto coach Marko Milanović said in a statement. “Her professionalism, consistency, and leadership set the tone for everything we built this year.

“She drove our standards from Day 1 and was the engine behind our midfield. We are incredibly proud of her and grateful for everything she gave to this club.”

Before joining Toronto, Regan spent two seasons in Denmark with HB Køge alongside fellow Canadian Samantha Chang, whom Toronto signed last week as a free agent from the Vancouver Rise.

Regan was a four-year starter and captain at the University of Texas.

She was also a four-time Academic All-Big 12 First Team selection at Texas and was named the Big 12 Conference Soccer Co-Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2022. She completed her collegiate career riding a streak of 80 consecutive starts dating back to 2018, finishing in the Longhorns’ top 10 for career matches played (tied for fourth with 90) and starts (third with 89).

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 13, 2026

Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press