Toronto FC

Toronto FC sign Antonoglou, Franklin, Rothrock and Yeates to short-term agreements

Toronto FC announced Wednesday that the club has signed Themi Antonoglou, Kobe Franklin, Paul Rothrock, and Steffen Yeates to short-term loan agreements from Toronto FC II. Per MLS rules, the short-term agreement allows clubs to sign players on loan from their MLS NEXT Pro affiliate for MLS, U.S. Open Cup, Concacaf Champions League, Canadian Championship and exhibition matches.

Antonoglou, 20, has been called up to the First Team three times this season and made his debut with Toronto FC when he came off the bench against New York City FC on April 24, 2022. With Toronto FC II, Antonoglou has made four appearances and recorded one goal and two assists during the MLS NEXT Pro inaugural season. Antonoglou originally joined the Toronto FC Academy in January 2015.

Franklin, 18, has made 28 appearances and recorded three goals and six assists with Toronto FC II. He joined the Young Reds on May 13, 2021, and made his professional debut on May 22 against North Texas SC. After an outstanding season with the Young Reds, Franklin finished in the top three in two categories of the 2021 USL League One Awards: Young Player of the Year and Defender of the Year.

Rothrock, 23, joined Toronto FC II on May 18, 2021, and made his debut with the Young Reds against FC Tucson. He has scored seven goals and appeared in 17 games for TFC II. He was originally selected 64th overall (third round) by Toronto FC in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas in January.

Yeates, 22, has made a combined 29 appearances with Toronto FC II over three seasons (2018, 2021 and 2022). Before returning to TFC II in 2021, he spent two seasons playing collegiate soccer at the University of Connecticut (2018) and Oregon State University (2019). With UConn, Yeates appeared in 17 games, scoring one goal while adding one assist. At Oregon State, Yeates made 14 appearances, scoring two goals in seven starts.