AFC Toronto Seeks Out Silano To Bolster Attack

Northern Super League side AFC Toronto has made its fourth signing of the summer, dipping outside the national border this time around following back-to-back Canadian national team signings.

The club has brought in American forward Lena Silano to bolster its attack for the second stanza of the NSL season, with the attacker available for selection when the NSL transfer window opens on July 20.

The 26-year-old arrives from USL Super League side Spokane Zephyr, where she led the team in scoring with 7 goals in 28 matches. With the club folding after that, however, the forward now locks in her next destination through AFC Toronto.

A 𝓯𝓪𝓫𝓾𝓵𝓸𝓾𝓼 fourth goal for @spokanezephyrfc ✨@lenasilano nets her SEVENTH of the season to extend the home side's lead! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/DQimqc1Bna

— Gainbridge Super League (@GainbridgeSL) May 16, 2026

Silano has played abroad before this, spending a season in Spain with UD Tenerife. Before that, she was selected 34th overall by the Washington Spirit in the 2023 NWSL Draft, staying two seasons with the NWSL side after impressing at the NCAA level.

“We are excited to welcome a player of Lena’s calibre to the Club,” says AFC Toronto Technical Director Billy Wilson.

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“Lena is someone we have admired for some time. She is an intelligent forward who links play well, makes excellent runs in behind and has a real instinct for finding dangerous spaces. We create a high volume of quality chances as a team, and we are confident Lena has the qualities to turn those opportunities into goals in the NSL.”

Silano says her early conversations with the club left her with the impression that it was an ambitious organization, with the Agoura Hills, California native left feeling excited to play in front of supporters at both BMO Field and York Lions Stadium.

WHAT?!?! Elysia Laramie with tremendous work to get by the defense & her cross is finished by an UNBELIEVABLE effort from Lena Silano!! 😳😳😳

We’re tied, 2-2, 88th minute. Goal of the year candidate? @NCAASoccer pic.twitter.com/BSu8dsnNG3

— The562.org (@562sports) September 5, 2022

AFC Toronto head coach Marko Milanovic describes her as an intelligent forward and a clinical finisher. Between the lines, there is an air of expectation that Silano will rack up some goals for AFC as the club looks to retain its regular season championship crown and, perhaps, lift the playoff championship this time around.

AFC Toronto has made some head-turning midseason recruitments, adding Canadian internationals Sabrina D’Angelo and Shalina Zardorsky into the fold, while mixing in some foreign talents like Ghanaian midfielder Linda Owusu Ansah this summer, with American duo Mia Fontana and Jordan Brewster both coming in the spring.

The transfer window timing means that while Silano won’t be available for this weekend’s home match againt Vancouver Rise, they’ll be an option on the road against the Montreal Roses next Thursday.

Header Image Photo Credit: Sean Pollock