Canadian club Toronto FC, have formally announced the signing of Canadian -born Ghanaian defender Richie Laryea from English Premier League side Nottingham Forest FC through 2026 with an option for 2027.
The 29-year old ace defender will be available for selection upon receipt of his International Transfer Certificate (ITC) and medical.
“We are thrilled to permanently welcome Richie and his family back to Toronto FC,” said Toronto FC General Manager Jason Hernandez.
“Richie embodies everything we value in a player and as a person in our new vision for TFC. His character, mentality, and commitment will be key for us as we continue to evolve as a group. On the field, Richie is best in class at his position in MLS and will be utilized in our system to highlight his strengths as an individual and our strengths as a team. We are looking forward to Richie battling for our club and our city for years to come.”
The defender returns to his hometown after recently completing a short loan spell with the Vancouver Whitecaps during the 2023 season. Laryea made a combined 14 appearances across all competitions (MLS regular season and MLS Cup Playoffs) and registered one goal and three assists for the Caps.
The Toronto, Ontario native also featured for TFC, scoring two goals and adding seven assists through 29 appearances during his second stint with Toronto FC (2022, 2023).
“I am excited to officially welcome Richie back to Toronto FC. Our fans and everyone in the organization will be happy to see him back where he belongs,” said Toronto FC Head Coach John Herdman.
“Knowing his skills, character, talent, and dedication from our time together on the national stage, I am confident his presence will be pivotal in our quest for success this season. I am excited to have the opportunity to work with him again.”
Laryea originally joined Nottingham Forest on January 8, 2022, and made his debut for the club in a 4-0 win against West Bromwich Albion on April 18, 2022. In all, he made five appearances for Forest during his six months with the club and was part of the squad that earned promotion to the English Premier League in May 2022.
Prior to his move to England, Laryea played three seasons (2019, 2020 and 2021) with Toronto FC after signing with the club as a free agent on March 21, 2019. Laryea made a combined 83 appearances across all competitions for the Reds, recording nine goals and adding 12 assists.
Laryea was a key member of TFC’s Eastern Conference Championship side in 2019 and also helped the Reds finish with the second-best record during the 2020 MLS regular season.
Laryea was originally selected by Orlando City SC in the first round (7th overall) of the 2016 MLS SuperDraft and made his MLS debut against Chicago Fire on June 24, 2017. During his time with the Lions, Laryea made 21 appearances across three seasons (2016, 2017, 2018).
Internationally, Laryea has earned 48 caps for the Canada Men’s National Team (CMNT), including three appearances at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
The defender made his senior debut in the Concacaf Nations League against Cuba on September 7, 2019, and registered his first goal for the national team in a World Cup qualifier against Bermuda on March 24, 2021.
