Toronto FC announced today that the club has acquired forward CJ Sapong in exchange for defender Lukas MacNaughton and General Allocation Money (GAM). Nashville SC will receive a guaranteed $125,000 in 2024 GAM and up to $75,000 in conditional 2025 GAM based on the player’s roster status and if certain performance metrics are met. Sapong will join the roster pending the receipt of his International Transfer Certificate (ITC).
“CJ has a long track record of scoring goals in MLS,” said Toronto FC Head Coach and Sporting Director Bob Bradley. “His work rate, mentality, and ability to impose himself on opponents in front of the goal are some of the important qualities we look forward to seeing from him here at TFC.”
Sapong, 34, was in his third season with Nashville SC, where he has made 80 appearances and registered 18 goals in all competitions (MLS, MLS Cup Playoffs and U.S. Open Cup). During the 2022 season, Sapong scored five goals and added five assists in MLS regular season action. He also scored the equalizing goal in stoppage time of a 3-2 U.S. Open Cup win over Atlanta United FC in May 2022. In 2021, Sapong scored 12 goals, which marked the third time in his career he reached the double-digit goal mark. Sapong originally joined Nashville via free agency on February 10, 2021.
Along other stops in his career, Sapong also spent two seasons with Chicago Fire FC (2019-2020), where he registered 15 goals in 43 MLS appearances. In 2019, Sapong registered a team-leading 13 goals in 32 appearances and was tied for the team lead in game-winning goals. Sapong also spent four seasons with the Philadelphia Union (2015-2018), where he made 135 appearances and registered 38 goals in all competitions (MLS, MLS Cup Playoffs and U.S. Open Cup).
The Manassas, Virginia native began his MLS career after originally being selected by Sporting Kansas City as the 10th overall selection in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft. In four seasons with Sporting KC, Sapong registered 24 goals in 138 appearances, and was part of the team that won the 2013 MLS Cup and the 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. In all, Sapong has made 350 MLS appearances, registering 24,323 minutes and scoring 88 goals across stints with Nashville SC, Chicago Fire, Philadelphia Union, and Sporting Kansas City.
MacNaughton, 28, has made 31 appearances across all competitions (MLS and Canadian Championship) since joining Toronto FC on January 25, 2022. Prior to his time with TFC, MacNaughton spent three seasons with Pacific FC, where he made 59 combined appearances (CPL and Canadian Championship) with five goals and one assist. MacNaughton was part of the club’s CPL Championship winning side, the first in club history, in 2021. The defender also played in League1 Ontario with Alliance United and the North Toronto Nitros.
TRANSACTION: Toronto FC acquire forward CJ Sapong from Nashville SC in exchange for defender Lukas MacNaughton and guaranteed and conditional GAM based on the player’s roster status. The deal was agreed to prior to the close of the Primary Transfer Window on April 24.
CJ SAPONG
Position: Forward
Height: 6’1"
Weight: 185 lbs.
Birthdate: December 27, 1988 (Age – 34)
Hometown: Manassas, Virginia
Nationality: United States
Last club: Nashville SC
