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AFC Toronto Announces Canadian Midfielder Nikayla Small
By Northern Super League side AFC Toronto has continued to round out its roster ahead of the inaugural season.
Today, the club has announced the signing of Nikayla Small, who most recently plied her trade with NCAA Division I powerhouse Wake Forest University.
Small began developing her skills with Pickering Soccer Club before being selected to join the National Development Centre Ontario.
“Nikayla is a player we are very familiar with having watched her develop while playing with the National Development Centre and Youth National Teams. Not only is she an outstanding talent who will offer us something different in central areas, she is a quality person who aligns with our values,” says AFC Toronto Sporting Director Billy Wilson.
“Being from Toronto, Nikayla knows what this club represents for our supporters and the next generation of young players. I have no doubt that she will have a huge influence at our club as we continue developing our project.”
At 15, Small made her debut in the Canadian youth program, where she represented Canada at the 2018 Concacaf Girls’ Under-15 Championship.
In 2022 she won a bronze medal with Canada at the Concacaf Women’s Under- 20 Championship in the Dominican Republic. She also went on to feature in the FIFA U-20s Women’s World Cup, where she was one of three team captains.
AFC Toronto continues to stick to its commitment of signing young talent from the Greater Toronto Area in creating new pathways of development for girls and women in the New Canadian women’s professional soccer league.
See Also: AFC Toronto Adds Trio From North Toronto SC
Nikayla Small highlighted the importance of the project with AFC Toronto and understanding the value of it for women’s sports in Toronto and across Canada.
“From a young age, I knew I wanted to go professional. But growing up, you never really saw anyone return to Canada to play soccer after university; everyone was always going overseas,” said the midfielder. “Now, having a chance to be part of this project with AFC Toronto, I know there’s nothing that can take away our part in history.
“I’m confident my experiences with Canada Soccer and at Wake Forest will help me massively in this new chapter and I’m really excited to learn from head coach Marko Milanovic. Walking out at our home stadium for the first time is going to be surreal and I can’t wait to represent this city.”
Header Image Photo Courtesy: Nikayla Smalls
