Toronto FC has officially signed Zane Monlouis, a 21-year-old centre back from England's Arsenal, to a two-year contract with options for 2027 and 2028. The announcement comes just before Toronto's MLS regular-season opener against D.C. United on Saturday night. Monlouis had been training with Toronto during their pre-season camp in Florida, showcasing his potential to the coaching staff.
Monlouis, who has garnered over 100 appearances in various youth divisions at Arsenal, including U-18, U-21, and U-23 teams, has also represented England at the under-15 and under-17 levels. Additionally, he is eligible to play for Jamaica and was recently called into a camp with the Jamaican under-23 national team in March.
Toronto FC's General Manager, Jason Hernandez, expressed enthusiasm about Monlouis's addition to the team's defense. In a statement, he noted, "Zane joins us from Arsenal FC, one of the top club environments in Europe. At just 21 years old, he has already gained a variety of playing experience in the U.K. His skill set both on and off the ball will be an asset to our defense, and we look forward to his continued growth and integration with our first team."
Monlouis's journey with Arsenal began in 2012 when he joined their academy. He signed his first professional contract with the club in October 2020. In 2024, he had a brief loan spell at Reading, where he made his debut in League One against Fleetwood Town. More recently, he was included in Arsenal's first-team matchday squad for Champions League fixtures against FC Shakhtar Donetsk in October and AS Monaco in December.
This signing is a strategic move for Toronto FC, fulfilling Hernandez's off-season plan that included adding a forward, midfielder, and centre back to bolster the team’s roster. In line with this strategy, Toronto also secured Norwegian international forward Ola Brynhildsen on a season-long loan from FC Midtjylland, including an option for a permanent transfer at year-end. Additionally, Canadian international winger Theo Corbeanu was brought in on loan from Spain's Granada CF.
With Monlouis’s arrival, Toronto FC enhances its defensive lineup, which already includes notable players like Kevin Long, Nicksoen Gomis, and Sigurd Rosted. The team struggled defensively last season, conceding 61 goals and missing the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year, finishing with a 11-19-4 record. The acquisition of Monlouis aims to strengthen the backline as the club seeks to improve upon last year's performance.
The signing of Zane Monlouis reflects Toronto FC’s ambitions to revamp their squad and address their weaknesses from the previous season effectively. As the new season unfolds, all eyes will be on the young centre back to see how he integrates into the team and contributes to its success.
