3 youth players who could make an impact next season for Toronto FC

The MLS offseason is now in full-swing with intra-league moves already taking place. For Toronto FC, there will be a lot of questions surrounding the future of Jonathan Osorio and the potential incomings for Bob Bradley's side this off-season.

Toronto FC went through a youth movement this season, seeing the likes of Jayden Nelson, Kosi Thompson, Luca Petrasso (now at Orlando City SC) and Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty break into the first team. Now it's time to look at who could be next from Toronto FC's academy that can put themselves in contention to become a regular first team contributor next season.

LB/LM - Themi Antonoglou

Age: 21 (2001)

Position(s): Left-Back / Left-Mid

Nationality: Canadian

Back in October, Toronto FC announced that they had exercised Antonoglou's contract option to keep him at the club until December 2023. Last season, Antonoglou had been signed to a first team contract after reaching the maximum amount of short-term deals per MLS Rules.

Antonoglou featured primarily with MLS Next Pro side Toronto FC II, where he made 20 appearances in the regular season for the team, recording four goals and four assists in 1738 minutes. He also featured in Toronto FC II's two playoff matches where in the semi-finals against Columbus Crew 2 he scored in the 90+3' with a free kick and an outstanding halfway-line goal in extra time. Unfortunately, Toronto were knocked out but Themi Antonoglou showed he has the ability to rise the occasion in the big moments.

With Domenico Criscito retiring, Jacob Shaffelburg staying in Nashville and Luca Petrasso moving to Orlando, Toronto FC now has no first team left-back options outside of Themi Antonoglou. There will be someone brought in before the start of next season at the left-back position but there will be ample opportunity for Themi Antonoglou to earn regular minutes in 2023.