Toronto FC announced today that the club has signed defender Lazar Stefanovic and winger Jesus Batiz to short-term agreements from Toronto FC II for the club’s Leagues Cup match against Atlas Football Club (Liga MX) taking place on Sunday, July 30. 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, Leagues Cup and exhibition matches.
Stefanovic, 16, has made 18 appearances (all starts) for TFC II during the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro Season including his debut with the Young Reds against FC Cincinnati 2 on April 30, 2022. Stefanovic was recently called up to Toronto FC and made two appearances for the First Team in the month of July, recording a combined 78 minutes against Real Salt Lake on July 1 and Orlando City on July 4. Prior to the Young Reds, Stefanovic represented the Toronto FC Academy across the U-10 to U-19 age groups from 2016 to 2023 and recently represented the Academy in the 2023 MLS NEXT All-Star Game in Washington, D.C. Born in Clearwater, Florida, Stefanovic originally joined the Toronto FC Academy in January 2016 after spending three years with Oakville Soccer Club. At the international level, Stefanovic represented Canada at the 2023 Concacaf U-17 Championship in Guatemala, scoring one goal and starting all six of the team’s games at the tournament.
Batiz, 24, has made 19 appearances and scored a team-leading eight goals for TFC II during the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro Season, including his debut with the Young Reds against FC Cincinnati 2 on March 27, 2023. Batiz was recently called up to Toronto FC and made two appearances for the first team in the month of July, recording a combined 63 minutes against Orlando City on July 4 and St. Louis CITY on July 8. Born in Tela, Honduras, Batiz previously spent time with Rochester New York FC of MLS NEXT Pro (2022) and New Amsterdam FC of the National Independent Soccer Association (2021) prior to the Young Reds.
TRANSACTION: Toronto FC sign defender Lazar Stefanovic and winger Jesus Batiz to short-term agreements from Toronto FC II for the club’s Leagues Cup match against Atlas FC.
