TORONTO, Canada—Monday is a good day for former Toronto FC employees it seems like.
Today, Major League Soccer officially announced the launch of MLS Next Pro, its new lower-division professional league that will see 20 MLS-affiliated teams (and one independent team co-owned by Leicester FC striker Jamie Vardy) compete in 2022.
The new league will aim to create a clear integrated player pathway from MLS NEXT — a league for younger academy teams — through to MLS first teams and offer young players and experienced professionals the opportunity to develop and showcase their talents while competing for an MLS NEXT Pro championship.