Toronto FC II announced that the club has signed midfielders Alonso Coello Camarero and Kota Sakurai to MLS NEXT Pro contracts. The pair will be added to the club’s roster pending league and federation approval.
“Alonso adds a physical dimension in midfield and is able to protect possession with his technical quality and ability to find spaces between lines,” said Toronto FC II Head Coach Gianni Cimini. “He also offers the capacity to provide cover for our back line from a defensive standpoint. Kota, meanwhile, is a technically sound player that will add consistency and reliability with the ball and will help us build our possession with a purpose.”
Coello Camarero, 22, spent the past three years (2018-2021) at Florida Atlantic University, where he registered three goals and 11 assists in 60 appearances. In his freshman year, he was named to the All-Conference USA Third Team and All-Freshman Team in 2018. A three-year captain for the Owls, he was named to the All-Conference USA First Team in 2019, before earning All-Conference USA Second Team honours in his junior and senior years (2021). The Spanish midfielder was a four-time All-Conference USA selection and became the first Owl to accomplish the recognition since 2006. He was also a three-time Conference-USA Preseason honoree.
Sakurai, 22, most recently played college soccer at Dartmouth College from 2017 to 2019, where he registered two goals and six assists in 47 appearances for the Big Green. Prior to college, the Japanese native joined the Toronto FC Academy in October 2015 and featured for TFC Academy in League1 Ontario and Premier Development League action. In 2016, he was named League1 Ontario’s Men's Young Player Of The Year and was also named to the League1 Ontario All-Star Second Team. He made his debut for Toronto FC II against Wilmington Hammerheads on July 2, 2016 and became the first Japanese player to feature for the Young Reds.
TRANSACTION: Toronto FC II sign midfielders Alonso Coello Camarero and Kota Sakurai to MLS NEXT Pro contracts.
ALONSO COELLO CAMARERO
Position: Midfielder
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 180 lbs.
Birthdate: October 12, 1999 (Age – 22)
Hometown: Madrid, Spain
Nationality: Spanish
College: Florida Atlantic University
KOTA SAKURAI
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5’8”
Weight: 159 lbs.
Birthdate: May 26, 1999 (Age – 22)
Hometown: Yokohama, Japan
Nationality: Japanese
College: Dartmouth College
