Toronto FC added some depth at the forward position on Friday when it selected Robbie Findley in Stage 1 of Major League Soccer’s re-entry draft.
“We are excited to bring Robbie to TFC and know he will fit in well with our group and what we are trying to accomplish,” general manager Tim Bezbatchenko said in a news release.
Findley, 29, has plenty of MLS experience, having played the last two seasons with Real Salt Lake. He previously suited up for the Utah-based club from 2007 until 2010, when he left MLS to join English Championship side Nottingham Forest.
He began the 2007 MLS season with the LA Galaxy after being selected 16th overall in that year’s college draft. Findley has 38 goals in 146 career regular-season games, with his best season coming in 2009 when he scored 12 times.
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Players chosen in Stage 1 of the MLS re-entry process have to have their contract option exercised or receive a “bona-fide” contract offer from their new team. Findley earned $245,500 US this past season.
The league’s re-entry draft is for players at least 23 years old with a minimum of three years experience in MLS whose contract options were not exercised this off-season.
It’s also for players out of contract who have not received “a bona-fide offer” and who are at least 25 years of age with a minimum of four years of MLS experience, and/or players at least 30 years old with a minimum of eight years of MLS experience.
The majority of MLS teams passed on their selections in Friday’s draft, and only three players ended up being picked. Aside from Finley, the Montreal Impact took Eric Kronberg, and the San Jose Earthquakes selected Andy Gruenebaum—both were goalkeepers with Sporting Kansas City.
TFC players who were available for selection but were overlooked included midfielders Dwayne De Rosario and Jeremy Hall, defender Ryan Richter and striker Andrew Wiedeman.
Montreal Impact goalkeeper Troy Perkins, and defenders Matteo Ferrari and Futty Danso were not selected. Canadian international Nana Attakora, whose contract option was declined by D.C. United, was also available but didn’t get picked.
Stage 2 of the re-entry draft—for those not selected on Friday—is scheduled for next Thursday when clubs are able to renegotiate contracts with the players they select.
