Official: Valour’s Matthew Catavolo Signs With TFC II

Just a matter of days after new first broke that Toronto FC wear eyeing Valour midfielder Matthew Catavolo for their MLS NEXT Pro side, the deal has been made official.

Today saw Toronto FC II announce that Catavolo had been picked up pending league and federation approval, with forward Jesus Batiz also being rostered.

Catavolo, 20, embarked on his rookie campaign with Valour FC last season, making 17 appearances predominantly as a substitute. The diminutive midfielder had plenty of fast feet and a reputation of being a real baller from the CF Montreal Academy squad, where he was top goalscorer in the U-23 reserves in 2021.

“Matthew is a technically gifted player that will add a threat in the final third, both in goals and assists from midfield and wide positions,” TFC II head coach Gianni Cimini said today.

The Montrealer was one of six Canadian Premier League youngsters to crack the Canada U-20 roster in the summer. He went on to feature in all three of Canada’s group stage matches, contributing a double in a 4-0 win over St Kitts and Nevis before the young side went out on penalties against Honduras in the Round of 16.

While Valour announced him on a multi-year deal in 2022, neither side has made mention of any transfer fee thus far. Cattavolo has already featured for TFC2 in a preseason friendly against a familiar opponent in York United.

His former side has seen plenty of roster turnover in the offseason, with club starts like Moses Dyer and Sean Rea having moved on and no less than thirteen new faces coming in.