Toronto FC, taking the first steps in what has been billed as a “total rebuild”, has declined 2025 contract options on defenders Aimé Mabika and Shane O’Neill, midfielder Brandon Servania and goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh .

The fate of German striker Prince Owusu, the team’s top scorer with nine goals, remains to be decided.

TFC says it has until the MLS deadline of Nov. 27 to exercise or decline the 2025 contract options of Owusu and defender Luke Singh, currently on loan at Atletico Ottawa of the CPL.

And the team says conversations are “ongoing” with some players whose options have been declined.

Toronto could attempt to renegotiate a new deal with Owusu, whose US$807,500 salary ranks fifth on the club.

He could also take the opportunity to see if other teams are interested in the big German.

“We would like to thank the players who will not be returning for the 2025 season for their hard work and service to our club,” Toronto general manager Jason Hernandez said in a statement. “We will continue to use the timelines provided by MLS in our ongoing discussions with selecting players for next season.

Toronto missed the playoffs for the fourth straight season, finishing 11th in the Eastern Conference with an 11-19-4 record. TFC finished poorly, collecting only one point out of 15 possible in its last five outings (0-4-1).

This prompted MLSE President and CEO Keith Pelley to state, “TFC is a complete rebuild…Everything is on the table.” »

“We don’t have a club identity, a club philosophy, right now for TFC… I kind of realized pretty quickly that it kind of got lost,” added Pelley, who took in charge of the MLSE in April.

Toronto exercised contract options on goalkeeper Luka Gavran, defenders Kobe Franklin and Kevin Long, winger Tyrese Spicer, midfielders Alonso Coello and Kosi Thompson and forward Deandre Kerr.

South African midfielder Cassius Mailula is on loan to Moroccan club Wydad Athletic Club until July 2025, with Wydad having the option to make a permanent move at the end of the loan.

Owusu, 27, who started 20 games, shared duties with Kerr, a 21-year-old Canadian who has three goals in 12 starts.

Servania, returning from knee surgery, was sidelined until August when he made his return with TFC 2. The 25-year-old, whose salary is US$602,708 ranked him ninth among TFC players, appeared for the first team a month later, seeing a total of just 63 minutes in three games including one start.

O’Neill, 31, who earned US$413,000, played in 20 games, including 14 starts, during a season disrupted by injuries. Mabika, 26, who earned US$133,125, fell down the depth chart and played in 12 games, including three starts.

Ranjitsingh was Toronto’s third goaltender behind Sean Johnson and Gavran.

Toronto has 17 players under contract, including designated players Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi.

Insigne and Bernardeschi, whose combined salaries of $21.695 million produced 12 goals and 15 assists this season, are under contract through June 2026 and the end of 2026, respectively. The club has contract options on Insigne until 2026 and Bernardeschi until 2028.

Guard/winger Richie Laryea, Toronto’s other designated player, is under contract through 2026 with a club option for 2027. Hernandez said Laryea’s contract could be restructured to remove DP status if necessary .

Toronto FC roster

Goalkeepers: Luka Gavran, Sean Johnson.

Defensemen: Nathaniel Edwards, Kobe Franklin, Nicksoen Gomis, Richie Laryea, Kevin Long, Adam Pearlman, Raoul Petretta, Sigurd Rosted, Lazar Stefanovic.

Midfielders: Alonso Coello, Derrick Etienne Jr., Deybi Flores, Matty Longstaff, Cassius Mailula, Jonathan Osorio, Kosi Thompson.

Forwards: Federico Bernardeschi, Lorenzo Insigne, Deandre Kerr, Hugo Mbongue, Charlie Sharp, Tyrese Spicer.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published October 28, 2024.