Insigne to leave Napoli for MLS and Toronto FC
By Angelo Zarra
Well the whispers have proven to be accurate and now it’s official … Lorenzo Insigne will leave Napoli at the end of the 2021-22 season and join Toronto FC in the MLS in one of the biggest moves the league has seen.
Lorenzo Insigne has signed his five year and half contract as new Toronto FC player. Deal sealed and completed in Rome together with his agent. It’s done, no way back. 🔴🇨🇦 #TorontoFC
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 4, 2022
Official statement expected soon. Lorenzo will arrive in Toronto in July with his family. #MLS pic.twitter.com/36HGWZm8OJ
Here are the details, according to Fabrizio Romano: Insigne will earn €11.5 million per season which translates to $16.49 million a season in Canadian funds. He will certainly be the highest paid MLS player.
Lorenzo Insigne's now getting closer and closer to Toronto FC. Deal progressing - all parties involved now confident to reach total agreement. Direct meetings to take place in Italy next days. 🇨🇦🇮🇹 #MLS
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 4, 2022
Five-and-half year deal for €11m plus €4.5m add ons salary on the table. pic.twitter.com/3EkprKuU1w
Many people will ask why would Insigne leave the Serie A to join an MLS club ? It’s quite simple, MONEY. He’s 30 years old and there’s no way an Italian club would offer the type of cash Toronto and the MLS are giving him. Even without the Covid 19 effect, Italian clubs are in a financial mess due to lack of stadium ownership (Juventus being an exception) and low funds in their television contract.
Insigne’s blockbuster move shouldn’t be a huge shock as to why he chose Toronto.
Toronto is Canada’s biggest city and home to the fourth-biggest population of Italian descent outside of Italy with an estimated 500,000 located in the greater Toronto area.
Toronto FC is owned by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) which is comprised of mega Canadian corporations BCE, Rogers Communications and Kilmer Sports. MLSE’s major assets also include the Toronto Maple Leafs of the NHL, the Toronto Raptors of the NBA, and the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League.
This is also great news for MLS as it shows the league has strong purchasing power and with a new TV deal due after the 2022 season (rumored to be a lot bigger than the current deal) you can bet the extra revenue will help attract players. The MLS has seen big names come over in the past: David Beckham and Zlatan Ibrahimovic signed with the LA Galaxy and Wayne Rooney played for DC United.
The reason this move is so huge is Insigne is coming to TFC one year removed from winning the European Championships with Italy. And the Napoli skipper netted a career-high 19 goals in Serie A last season.
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Insigne will arrive to MLS in his prime at the age of 31, something a bit rare for a big-name European player as they usual come to the league for a “retirement package.” Insigne should be able to play at very high level throughout his tenure with Toronto.