Toronto FC announced today that the club has acquired Canadian international midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye from the Colorado Rapids in exchange for midfielder Ralph Priso, a 2023 international roster slot, a natural 2023 first-round MLS SuperDraft pick and General Allocation Money (GAM). Colorado will receive a guaranteed $350,000 in 2022 GAM, $425,000 in 2023 GAM and up to $275,000 in conditional 2023 or 2024 GAM based on the player’s 2023 roster status. As part of the trade, both clubs will retain a percentage of Kaye’s and Priso’s sell-on values. Kaye will join the roster pending the receipt of his International Transfer Certificate (ITC).
“We are very excited to add Mark to our team,” said Toronto FC Head Coach and Sporting Director Bob Bradley. “Over the past five seasons Mark has established himself as one of the better two-way midfielders in the league. He’s an intelligent player who likes to be around the ball, a good passer, ball-winner, competitor and teammate. We wish Ralph all the best in Colorado. He’s a great young man with a bright future ahead of him.”
A native of Toronto, Canada, Kaye, 27, returns to his hometown after playing the past five seasons split between Los Angeles FC (LAFC, 2018-2021) and Colorado Rapids (2021-2022). He most recently played for the Rapids, where he made 36 appearances registering four goals and two assists across all competitions. With LAFC, Kaye registered nine goals and 18 assists in 89 appearances across competitions (MLS regular season, MLS Cup Playoffs, U.S. Open Cup and Concacaf Champions League) and was named to the 2019 MLS All-Star Game. He played an instrumental role in the LAFC’s 2019 Supporters’ Shield title and the Black and Gold’s run to the 2020 Concacaf Champions League final, where they finished as runners-up.
Before joining MLS, Kaye spent two seasons with Louisville City FC of the United Soccer League (USL), where he made a combined 51 appearances, scoring six goals in all competitions (USL regular season, USL Playoffs and U.S. Open Cup). The midfielder started all four USL Playoff matches with LouCity on the way to winning the USL Cup against Swope Park in November 2017.
During his collegiate career, Kaye played for York University in Toronto, where he tallied 18 goals in 29 matches over two years. In 2012, he was named Ontario University Athletics’ (OUA) Rookie of the Year and York University’s Male Rookie of the Year. The following year, he scored the OUA championship-clinching goal for York Lions against Ryerson Rams, which earned him OUA First Team and Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) All-Canadian Second Team honours. In 2013, Kaye joined the Toronto FC Academy, and in 2014 he played for Toronto FC III in League1 Ontario, where he made nine appearances and scored one goal, before finishing the season on loan with USL side Wilmington Hammerheads. In 2015, the midfielder signed with Toronto FC II and made 21 USL Pro appearances for the club, including his debut in the Young Reds’ first-ever match, on March 21, 2015, against the Charleston Battery.
Internationally, Kaye has earned 35 senior caps for Canada Men’s National Team (CMNT) and has registered two goals and seven assists. He was a key player for the CMNT in the final round of the FIFA World Cup Qualifying, where Canada finished undefeated and atop the table, qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup for the first time in 36 years. He was named Canada Soccer Player of the Month in July 2019 and was a finalist for the federation’s 2019 Male Player of the Year. He made his debut for the senior team on June 13, 2017, when he came on as a substitute in a friendly match against Curaçao. Before his senior debut, Kaye appeared in four games for Canada’s U-23 team in 2016.
Priso, 19, became the 25th player in club history to sign for Toronto FC from the TFC Academy upon joining on October 14, 2020. Through three seasons, the Homegrown midfielder made 33 appearances and scored two goals across all competitions (MLS regular season, MLS Cup Playoffs, Canadian Championship and Concacaf Champions League). Priso also spent time with Toronto FC II, where he appeared in five matches for the Young Reds during the 2019 USL One regular season. Priso originally joined the Toronto FC Academy in January 2017.
TRANSACTION: Toronto FC acquired Canadian international midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye from Colorado Rapids in exchange for midfielder Ralph Priso, a 2023 international roster slot, a natural 2023 first-round MLS SuperDraft pick, and guaranteed and conditional GAM based on the player’s roster status.
MARK-ANTHONY KAYE
Position: Midfielder
Height: 6”1’
Weight: 170 lbs.
Birthdate: December 2, 1994 (Age – 27)
Birthplace: Toronto, Canada
Nationality: Canadian
Previous Club: Colorado Rapids
