Toronto FC II announced today that the club has signed midfielder Matthew Catavolo and forward Jesus Batiz to MLS NEXT Pro contracts. The pair will be added to the club’s roster pending league and federation approval.
“Matthew is a technically gifted player that will add a threat in the final third, both in goals and assists from midfield and wide positions,” said Toronto FC II Head Coach Gianni Cimini. “He comes with fantastic experience as a U-17 and U-20 National Team player, along with the year he had in the CPL with Valour FC. Jesus, meanwhile, is a dynamic winger that can run in behind and also be a threat on the dribble. We are excited to be working with him as he is also tactically flexible and solid from a defensive standpoint.”
Catavolo, 20, recently spent the 2022 season with Valour FC, where he made 17 appearances across all competitions (Canadian Premier League regular season and Canadian Championship). The Montreal, Quebec native originally joined the CF Montréal Academy in 2016 and was the top scorer of the club’s U-23 reserve team in 2021. Internationally, Catavolo represented Canada at the 2019 Concacaf U-17 Championship in the United States and the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Brazil, registering two assists across eight appearances. He also made three appearances for Canada at the 2022 Concacaf U-20 Championship in Honduras, which included a brace scored against St. Kitts and Nevis on June 22, 2022.
Batiz, 23, recently spent the 2022 season with Rochester New York FC, scoring five goals and adding three assists in 27 appearances across all competitions (MLS NEXT Pro regular season, MLS NEXT Pro Cup Playoffs and U.S. Open Cup). He previously also spent time with New Amsterdam FC of the National Independent Soccer Association (USA, Third Division), where he scored three goals in 17 appearances through the 2021 Fall season.
TRANSACTION: Toronto FC II sign midfielder Matthew Catavolo and forward Jesus Batiz to MLS NEXT Pro contracts.
MATTHEW CATAVOLO
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5’4”
Weight: 135 lbs.
Birthdate: February 13, 2003 (Age – 20)
Hometown: Montreal, Quebec
Nationality: Canadian
Last Club: Valour FC
JESUS BATIZ
Position: Forward
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 165 lbs.
Birthdate: June 14, 1999 (Age – 23)
Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts
Nationality: American
Last Club: Rochester New York FC
