Rumour: With TFC’s Loan Over, Laryea Set For Whitecaps

Following the expiry of Richie Laryea’s loan with Toronto FC on June 30, the Nottingham Forest defender looks set for a new spell in Canada…with the Vancouver Whitecaps.

A new report from The Athletic’s Tom Bogert states that the Whitecaps will sign the Canadian national team full-back on loan through to the end of the year, having already come to personal terms with the defender.

Bogert states that the club will seek to turn his loan into a permanent move during the winter window, with the 28-year-old looking to lock in a designated player contract. While other Major League Soccer sides had expressed interest in bringing him in, the Whitecaps put forth the best package for the MLS veteran.

Richie had signed with Nottingham Forest last January ahead of their eventual promotion to the English Premier League. It’s estimated that Toronto FC received about one million dollars for the defender, who’s move was made possible after Canada’s rise through the FIFA rankings.

He departed Toronto FC after establishing himself as a league-leading right-back, making 83 appearances for the club and contributing eight goals during his first stint in red. A second would follow, on loan from Nottingham this time, with Laryea making 28 appearances between the 2022 and 2023 MLS seasons.

Many fans had been left scratching their heads when Toronto FC let his loan expire without ‘serious discussions’ on renewing, suggesting his departure was all part of the plan – though with Toronto FC footing a significant wage bill amongst an all-time terrible run of form across all competitions, spectators would be forgiven for assuming the TFC boardroom is in a state of chaos.

Laryea, who has made 45 appearances for the national team and was called upon at the Men’s World Cup in Qatar, would be seen as quite a domestic signing for the Vancouver Whitecaps.

More to come as the story develops.