It looks like we'll never see Thiago Andrade wearing the red kit of Toronto FC.
Transfer oracle Tom Bogert reports that the club is in the process of selling the winger "to an Asian club" for "around $500,000." Toronto acquired Thiago from San Diego FC on December 11, 2024, by trading a first-round pick in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft after San Diego had selected Thiago in the 2024 Expansion Draft from New York City FC.
In other words, Toronto flipped Thiago for $500,000.
In the words of Waking the Red, Toronto General Manager Jason Hernandez (who was selected by New York City in the 2014 Expansion Draft) "said at the time that Andrade’s 'ability to combine pace and relentless runs to threaten the depth behind defences will be a welcomed addition to our group.' What a waste of words that turned out to be."
Hudson River Blue Staff
Instead, Thiago will be headed back to Asia. The 24-year-old, who is valued at €1 million by Transfermarkt, spent last season on loan to Shenzhen Peng City FC in the Chinese Super League, where he had three goals and three assists in 22 appearances. He spent most of the previous year with Club Athletico Paranaense in Brazil's Serie A.
New York City added the pacey winger in 2021 for a reported $1.8 million fee, then the fourth-most expensive signing in club history. When San Diego selected him in the 2024 Expansion Draft, NYCFC received $50,000 in General Allocation Money.
Thiago was a part of the NYCFC team that won the 2021 MLS Cup, but the club loaned him out in March 2023, shortly after scoring the game-winning goal in a match against DC United.
