AFC Toronto

Not to be confused with Toronto FC, a men's soccer club.

AFC Toronto is a professional women's soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario, that competes in the Northern Super League, a league at the top of the Canadian soccer league system.

AFC Toronto

Full name	Association Football Club Toronto
Founded	April 26, 2023; 2 years ago (April 26, 2023)
Stadium	York Lions Stadium North York, Ontario
Capacity	4,000
CEO	Helena Ruken
Head coach	Marko Milanović
League	Northern Super League
Website	afctoronto.ca
Current season

History

In April 2023, AFC Toronto was established by a group of local soccer community members, including Helena Ruken, Brenda Ha, Jill Burgin, Billy Wilson, Mike Ruthard, Kamal Sandhu, and Shamez Mangalji.^[1] They became the third club to enter as a founding member of the Northern Super League, which will launch its inaugural season in 2025.^[2][3] Although several of the founders held a connection with the North Toronto Nitros, including Ruken who serves as the Nitros President, AFC Toronto will operate as a separate entity.^[4] In January 2024, Canadian Olympic sprinter Andre De Grasse joined the club as an investor.^[5][6]

In June 2024, the club unveiled their official branding, maroon and vermillion serving as the team's colours, and their crest, which features a letter T at the centre symbolizing Toronto and mirrored 7s on either side representing the team's original seven founding members, as well as the city's original six boroughs plus the GTA.^[7][8] It was announced that the team would play at York Lions Stadium as their home venue for the 2025 season, sharing the venue with Canadian Premier League club York United FC and MLS Next Pro side Toronto FC II.^[9][10] In October 2024, Jade Kovacevic was unveiled as the club and league's first ever player signing.^[11]

On April 19, 2025, they played their inaugural match, losing 1–0 to Montreal Roses FC, in front of 14,518 fans at BMO Field.^[12] They recorded their first victory on May 1, 2025, in a 2–1 victory over Calgary Wild FC.^[13]

Players and staff

Players

As of April 24, 2025

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  FIN Sofia Manner 2 DF  CAN April Lantaigne 3 DF  KOR Hong Hye-ji 4 MF  CAN Nikayla Small 5 DF  USA Croix Soto 6 DF  CAN Kaela Hansen 7 FW  CAN Mya Jones (on loan from San Diego Wave) 8 DF  CAN Emma Regan (captain) 9 FW  CAN Jade Kovacevic 10 FW  CAN Leah Pais 11 FW  CAN Kaylee Hunter 12 FW  USA Shaina Ashouri

No. Pos. Nation Player 13 MF  JPN Aoi Kizaki 14 DF  CAN Sarah Rollins 17 MF  COD Nyota Katembo ([A]) 18 MF  PHI Ivymae Perez ([A]) 19 DF  CAN Ashley Cathro 20 MF  CAN Sonia Walk 21 GK  POR Sierra Cota-Yarde ([A]) 22 MF  SKN Cloey Uddenberg ([A]) 23 FW  NGA Esther Okoronkwo 31 MF  USA Colby Barnett 50 GK  CAN Noelle Henning (Developmental roster) 94 MF  CAN Victoria Pickett (on loan from North Carolina Courage)

1. ^
   Counts as a domestic player as she also holds Canadian nationality

Current staff

As of August 7, 2024^[14]

Executive
Chief Executive Officer	Helena Ruken
Chief Operating Officer	Kamal Sandhu
Vice-President, Brand and Partnerships	Kathleen Hegarty
Sporting Director	Billy Wilson
Coaching staff
Head coach	Marko Milanović
Assistant coach	Sylvia Forbes
Goalkeeping coach	Rasih Pala
Head Athletic Therapist	Karla Leong
Sports Science & Performance coach	Mariana Gonzalez Moreno
Athletic therapist	Kia Halsall

See also

• Ontario portal
• Women's association football portal

• North Toronto Nitros
• Toronto Lady Lynx
• Toronto Inferno