Lorenzo Insigne was signed by Toronto FC as a star acquisition, yet all signs now point to the fact that his MLS journey is reaching its conclusion. The Italian forward, who is among the highest-paid players in the league, was not included in the squad for the team's first game of the 2025 campaign, and the decision was made by head coach Robin Fraser. If there was doubt before about his future at the club, it now seems to have made way for certainty, he is no longer in the plans.
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This is an uncomfortable position for Toronto FC and Insigne alike. The player has reportedly rejected all chances of leaving, while the club, on their end, do not wish to play him. A standoff that could prove costly for both.
Insigne no longer figures in Toronto FC plans
For a player of Insigne's caliber and massive contract to be omitted altogether from the opening match of the season speaks volumes about the problem. Fraser, the new manager, does not have any intentions on constructing the team around the Italian.
This decision did not come out of left field. In 2023, Insigne was allegedly one of the ringleaders in a fractured locker room, which eventually led to the dismissal of ex-head coach Bob Bradley. Reports even suggested he got into an argument with interim manager Terry Dunfield, who replaced Bradley.
Toronto FC has already disclosed that they did attempt to transfer him, with offers coming in from Italy, Spain, and Turkey. The issue? Insigne wouldn't leave.
The weight of a multimillion-dollar contract
When Insigne left Napoli to join Toronto FC in 2022, his transfer sent shockwaves through the soccer world. A European Championship winner, an Italian international, leaving Europe in his prime to play in MLS? It was unprecedented. Toronto FC took a gamble, handing out a staggering $15.4 million a year, one of the highest salaries in the league.
The investment, however, never translated into success on the field. Insigne has played just 54 matches across four seasons, with underwhelming stats: 14 goals and 14 assists. For comparison, much lesser-known players have had a far greater impact in MLS in far less time.
Now, the club is in a difficult situation. Insigne won't leave, and TFC clearly does not wish to retain him. What do they do with a player earning so much money but completely out of the coaching staff's plans?
Why won't Insigne leave?
Insigne's rejection of offers to play for European soccer clubs raises some enormous questions. Does he really believe he can reclaim his position at Toronto FC? Is money and the security of it coming ahead of the prospect of a fresh challenge?
If his relationship with the club was already strained, being left out of the 2025 season opener might have been the final straw. Toronto FC doesn't want to keep investing in a player who isn't delivering, and Insigne, at least for now, doesn't seem intent on making his exit any easier.
Toronto FC needs to act fast
No matter how this saga ends, Toronto FC cannot let this situation drag on much longer. To have one of the highest-paid players in MLS sit on the bench — or worse, not make the team at all — is a financial nightmare.
The best scenario would be to end the ordeal as quickly as possible, either by reaching an agreement on a transfer where another team pays part of his wages or convincing Insigne that it no longer makes sense to remain. If nothing else, the club risks being stuck with a financial burden and no real payoff on the pitch.
A disappointment in the making?
Insigne arrived in MLS with hype as a game-changer who would help further boost the profile of the league. Instead, his time with Toronto FC is shaping up to be one of the biggest disappointments in Designated Player history.
His talent has never been questioned, but his passion and commitment always have been. What was possibly a match made in heaven between a top player and a growing league is now looking like an unavoidable divorce.
Toronto FC has made its decision. Now the only remaining question is how long it will take Insigne to accept reality.