Toronto FC loans Bakero to Phoenix Rising FC of the USL Championship

Toronto FC has loaned forward Jon Bakero to Phoenix Rising FC of the USL Championship.

The 22-year-old Bakero is the third TFC player to go out on loan in recent days. Midfielder Aidan Daniels went to the USL’s Ottawa Fury FC, along with Toronto FC 2 players Robert Boskovic and Shaan Hundal. Defender-midfielder Ryan Telfer was sent to York 9 FC of the Canadian Premier League.

The moves leave Toronto’s senior roster at 26, including Spanish midfielder Alejandro Pozuelo who is set to arrive in advance of TFC’s next game March 29 against visiting new York City FC. And the 26 includes Dutch defender Gregory van der Wiel, who is awaiting a move after a training camp bust-up with coach Greg Vanney.

While league rosters can run as high as 30 players, Toronto has gone with 28 mostly in recent years to remain under the salary cap.

Bakero, along with US$50,000 in general allocation money, was acquired last July in a trade that sent Liechtenstein international midfielder Nico Hasler to the Chicago Fire.

permanent home

'We're hugely grateful:' Nanaimo Men's Shed group finds a place to call home

1h ago

Making an impact

Nanaimo woman publishes books to open awareness of neurodiverse children

14h ago

iconic voice

Legendary hockey broadcaster Bob Cole, a welcome voice for a half-century, dead at 90

21h ago

The Spaniard made three appearances last season for Toronto.

Chicago drafted Bakero fifth overall in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft. In four years at Wake Forest, he collected 37 goals and 26 assists in 88 matches and won the MAC Hermann Trophy as the top U.S. collegiate male soccer player in 2017.

The Canadian Press