Toronto FC announced Sunday that the club has signed goalkeeper Luka Gavran through 2023 with options for 2024 and 2025. He will be added to the roster via Major League Soccer’s (MLS) Extreme Hardship mechanism. TFC is eligible for Extreme Hardship, which exists when a team has fewer than two goalkeepers available or has less than 16 outfield players available.
Gavran, 23, has registered three clean sheets and 86 saves through 17 appearances (16 starts) for Toronto FC II during the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro regular season. Earlier this season, the goalkeeper signed four MLS short-term agreements with the First Team during the 2023 MLS regular season. He was originally selected 31st overall (second round) by Toronto FC in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft and then signed with Toronto FC II, the club’s MLS NEXT Pro team, on March 24, 2022. In his first season with the Young Reds, the Hamilton, Ontario native recorded six clean sheets and 70 saves in 20 appearances during the MLS NEXT Pro season. He was named MLS NEXT Pro Goalkeeper of the Month for July 2022, and was selected to participate in “Goalie Wars” at the 2022 MLS All-Star Skills Challenge the following month. He made his professional debut with Toronto FC II against FC Cincinnati 2 on April 3, 2022.
Prior to joining Toronto FC II, Gavran spent four seasons with St. John’s University, where he made 48 appearances and registered 121 saves. In his junior year, he was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-America Third Team, becoming St. John’s first player to earn the honours since 2008. He also became the third player in program history to be named BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year, earning the award in 2021 after going 11-6-3 with 12 shutouts.
TRANSACTION: Toronto FC sign goalkeeper Luka Gavran through 2023 with options for 2024 and 2025. He will be added to the roster via Major League Soccer’s (MLS) Extreme Hardship mechanism.
LUKA GAVRAN
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 6’6"
Weight: 203 lbs.
Birthdate: May 9, 2000 (Age – 23)
Hometown: Hamilton, Ontario
Nationality: Canadian
Previous Club: Toronto FC II
