Toronto FC announced Thursday that they have completed the signing of midfielder Dwayne De Rosario following his selection in Stage 2 of the MLS Re-Entry draft process last month.
The news marks a second homecoming for De Rosario, 35, who joined his hometown club in 2008 after making his name with the San Jose Earthquakes and Houston Dynamo, only to be traded to New York in April 2011. He found himself on the move again less than three months later, joining D.C. United, where he netted 23 goals and 21 assists in 68 MLS matches and was named the 2011 MLS MVP and MLS Golden Boot recipient on the strength of a 13-goal, 12-assist season.
Last season the Canadian international appeared in 24 matches for United, scoring three goals and adding two assists.
“Dwayne’s resume speaks for itself,” said Toronto FC general manager Tim Bezbatchenko in a statement. “The addition of an MLS veteran with regular season and MLS Cup MVP honors brings a significant piece to the team we are building here at Toronto FC. Dwayne’s impact will add considerable skill and depth to our squad and we look forward to having him serve as a mentor to our younger players.
“Dwayne has had a tremendous MLS and national team career. He has very strong ties to the team and the city and it is only fitting that this is how his story should unfold.”
De Rosario has been a member of four MLS Cup winning sides – twice with the San Jose Earthquakes (2001 and 2003) and twice with the Houston Dynamo (2006 and 2007) – earning MLS Cup MVP honors in 2001 and 2007. In all, has made 324 appearances in 13 MLS seasons with 103 goals and 77 assists, and has been named to the MLS Best XI six times (2005-07, 2009-11).
The Scarborough, Ontario, native originally joined Toronto FC via a trade with the Dynamo on December 12, 2008. He appeared in 57 games over two-plus seasons with TFC, leading the team in scoring in 2009 with 11 goals and in 2010 with a franchise single-season best 15 goals.
On April 8, 2010, he was named the second captain in team history and later that season he helped lead the Reds to their first CONCACAF Champions League berth. He remains Toronto’s all-time career leader in goals (27), multi-goal games (five), game-winning goals (seven), shots (158) and tied for first in assists (10).
A four-time Canadian Player of the Year (2005, 2006, 2007 and 2011), De Rosario has a total of 77 caps for Canada and is the team’s all-time leading goalscorer with 20.
Written by Steve Milne
