By Canadian Press

Winger Ryan Telfer returns to York 9 FC of the Canadian Premier League

Jun 3, 2020 | 7:14 AM

TORONTO — Winger Ryan Telfer is returning to York 9 FC.

Toronto FC loaned the 26-year-old from Trinidad and Tobago via Mississauga, Ont., to the Canadian Premier League club in March 2019 and then last November declined to pick up his option for 2020.

On Wednesday, Telfer came back to the club where he was part of several CPL firsts.

Telfer made CPL history by scoring the league’s first goal, three minutes into the 2019 season opener against Forge FC at Tim Hortons Field last April in Hamilton. He finished the season with eight goals in 26 games.

Telfer also became the first to score for a CPL team against Major League Soccer opposition when he connected against the Montreal Impact in the Canadian Championship.

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He added another honour when, playing for Trinidad and Tobago against Martinique in the CONCACAF Nations League, he became the first player from the CPL ranks to score internationally.

Born in Canada to parents from Trinidad and Tobago, Telfer grew up in Chaguanas in central Trinidad but regularly visited family here. He moved to Canada for school when he was 17.

“He will always be a hugely important figure for both York 9 FC and the CPL after scoring such significant firsts,” York 9 managing consultant Angus McNab said in a statement. “After the sale of Emilio (Estevez to Dutch club ADO Den Haag), it was important to ensure we brought in a top-quality replacement, and with Ryan, we have done that.”

After the 2019 season, he accepted a short-term contract offer to play for Nea Salamina Famagusta in the Cypriot First Division.

“York has always been a second home to me and it feels good to be back,” Telfer said in a statement. “To the fans and club, I’ve got unfinished business here.”

Telfer, who played for both York University and League 1 Ontario’s Vaughan Azzurri, played in 16 MLS regular-season games for Toronto FC and made 38 appearances for TFC II.

He has been capped six times by Trinidad and Tobago.

“We are delighted to welcome Ryan back to the club. We have had to be a little patient to get this deal completed, but now that it is, we’re all looking forward to the prospect of him rejoining the group,” said McNab.

“To be able to add a player of Ryan’s calibre to our attacking options only enhances how competitive we expect to be when we resume.”

York 9 returned to training Wednesday. The eight-team CPL was slated to kick off its second season on April 11 but postponed the start of the campaign due to the global pandemic.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 3, 2020.

Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press