Toronto FC announced today that the club has signed goalkeeper Luka Gavran and defender Lazar Stefanovic to short-term agreements from Toronto FC II for the club’s next two MLS matches against Real Salt Lake and Orlando City SC. Per MLS rules, the short-term agreement allows clubs to sign players on loan from their MLS NEXT Pro affiliate for MLS, U.S. Open Cup, Concacaf Champions League, Canadian Championship and exhibition matches.
Gavran, 23, made 11 appearances for Toronto FC II during the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro regular season. He originally joined Toronto FC II on March 24, 2022, and made his debut on April 3 against FC Cincinnati 2. In his first season with the Young Reds, the Hamilton, Ontario native made 20 appearances and recorded six clean sheets during the MLS NEXT Pro regular season. He was named MLS NEXT Pro Goalkeeper of the Month for July 2022, and was selected to participate in “Goalie Wars” at the 2022 MLS All-Star Skills Challenge the following month. Gavran was originally selected 31st overall (second round) by Toronto FC in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft out of St. John’s University.
Stefanovic, 16, has made 13 appearances (all starts) for TFC II during the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro Season since making his debut with the Young Reds against FC Cincinnati 2 on April 30, 2022. Prior to the Young Reds, Stefanovic represented the Toronto FC Academy across the U-10 to U-19 age groups from 2016 to 2023 and was recently named to the 2023 MLS NEXT All-Star Game set to take place in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, July 19, 2023. Born in Clearwater, Florida, Stefanovic originally joined the Toronto FC Academy in January 2016 after spending three years with Oakville Soccer Club. At the international level, Stefanovic represented Canada at the 2023 Concacaf U-17 Championship in Guatemala, scoring one goal and starting all six of the team’s games at the tournament.
TRANSACTION: Toronto FC sign goalkeeper Luka Gavran and defender Lazar Stefanovic to short-term agreements from Toronto FC II for the club’s next two MLS matches
