Long before Liam Fraser officially became the 16th player in Toronto FC history to sign with the first team from the club’s academy, the 19-year-old knew he would be playing with the big boys this year.
It was a secret he had to keep from everyone but his immediate family until mid-January, when the Toronto native’s homegrown deal was officially announced. Putting pen to paper, Fraser said a few days later, set 2018 in a good direction — but it could be looked at as nothing more than a stepping stone.
“I’m not fixated on just signing for the first team,” Fraser said at the time.