Toronto FC have officially announced that Napoli captain Lorenzo Insigne has signed for the MLS club and will join in July as a free agent. ‘Lorenzo is a world class attacking player in the prime of his career.’
His contract with the Partenopei is running down and will expire on June 30, as Napoli only offered an extension if he took a significant pay cut.
Toronto had already hinted at the move by referencing the Italian word ‘Tiraggiro’, a Neapolitan version of right-foot curler that made it into the Treccani dictionary last year after Insigne’s UEFA EURO 2020 exploits.
They then used a video of Sky Sport Italia transfer expert Fabrizio Romano using his ‘here we go’ catchphrase to confirm the deal was done.
“This is a historic and exciting day for our club,” said Toronto FC President Bill Manning on the official website.
“Lorenzo is a world class attacking player in the prime of his career. He was a European champion with Italy and has performed on the biggest stages during his club career with Napoli.
“Lorenzo has the talent to change games. He plays the game with joy and passion, and our fans and supporters are going to love watching him as a member of our team.”
It is a pre-contract agreement for a four-year deal that runs from July 1, 2022.
“We are all looking forward to having Lorenzo join us this summer,” said Toronto FC Head Coach and Sporting Director Bob Bradley.
“His ability to create chances for himself and his teammates is special. Having watched him for many years, I also know he’s also a player who works for the team.
“Lorenzo is the kind of player you come to watch, because there’s always a chance, he’ll do something unforgettable.”
It is reported Insigne will earn €11.5m per season gross, plus up to €4.5m per season in performance-related bonuses.