Toronto FC agrees to deal for Venezuelan international winger Yeferson Soteldo

By: Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press Posted: 11:27 AM CDT Saturday, Apr. 24, 2021 Last Modified: 12:32 PM CDT Saturday, Apr. 24, 2021

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Brazil's Santos FC said goodbye to Yeferson Soteldo on Saturday, saying it had sold the Venezuelan international winger to Toronto FC.

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Brazil's Santos FC said goodbye to Yeferson Soteldo on Saturday, saying it had sold the Venezuelan international winger to Toronto FC.

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This article was published 24/04/2021 (1984 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Brazil’s Santos FC said goodbye to Yeferson Soteldo on Saturday, saying it had sold the Venezuelan international winger to Toronto FC.

While Santos confirmed the sale in a news release, Toronto did not immediately confirm the signing. But several sources said Major League Soccer and TFC finalized the transfer deal with Santos on Friday night for the 23-year-old.

One source said personal terms with the player had yet to be concluded, although that was expected to follow.

Venezuela's Yeferson Soteldo celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during South America Olympic qualifying U23 soccer action against Argentina, in Pereira, Colombia, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. Toronto FC has signed Soteldo as its third designated player, according to a source. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Fernando Vergara

The sources spoke on the condition of anonymity because the acquisition had not been made public yet.

The five-foot-three Soteldo wore the same No. 10 that Brazilian legend Pele had at Santos.

An elusive winger who likes to take on defenders and befuddle them with his moves, Soteldo can make goals and score them. He had 20 goals in 104 games for Santos.

He was named to the 2020 Copa Libertadores team of the tournament — along with the likes of Carlos Tevez of Boca Juniors — as Santos made it to the final before losing 1-0 to Brazilian rival Palmeiras.

River Plate forward Rafael Santos Borre, an earlier transfer target of TFC, was also named to the team of the tournament.

Soteldo joins striker Jozy Altidore and Spanish playmaker Alejandro Pozuelo as Toronto’s designated players.

He fills the DP spot left by Argentina’s Pablo Piatti, whose option was not picked up by the MLS club after last season.

The winger made his first-team debut with Venezuela’s Zamora FC in September 2013 when he was 16. He moved to Chile’s Huachipato in December 2016 and went on to spend 2018 with Universidad de Chile on loan.