William Yarbrough's arrival adds veteran leadership and competition in Toronto FC's goalkeeping ranks. Betting angle: expect tighter defensive lines — punters might back Toronto for under-goals markets or clean sheets, while goalkeeper-start markets could favour Luka Gavran early in the season.
Toronto FC adds veteran goalkeeper William Yarbrough ahead of 2026 MLS season
TORONTO — Toronto FC has signed 36-year-old goalkeeper William Yarbrough as it looks to add experience and leadership to a retooled roster. The Mexican-born American joins as a free agent after a season as a backup at Inter Miami and has a contract through the 2026 MLS season with an option into June 2027.
Depth chart shake-up: Gavran, Yarbrough and the starting spot
With Sean Johnson departing in free agency to D.C. United, Toronto projects Canadian Luka Gavran to the front of the pecking order. Gavran, 25, made 16 regular-season appearances as Johnson's understudy and featured briefly for Canada in a recent international win. Coach Robin Fraser expects a competitive battle, believing both keepers will elevate each other through daily competition.
What Yarbrough brings: leadership, work ethic and big-game experience
Yarbrough is pitched as more than an emergency option. Known for his relentless work ethic and team-first approach, he is expected to fill leadership gaps on and off the field, mirroring the profile of newly acquired defender Walker Zimmerman. Though he did not appear on the pitch during Inter Miami's MLS Cup run, Yarbrough has trained alongside top-tier talent and said the experience of working with world-class players improved his standards and preparation.
Career snapshot and credentials
Yarbrough came through Pachuca's youth system, had loan spells early in his career, then starred at Club León where he won two Liga MX titles and notched 52 shutouts in 203 appearances. He has logged about 120 MLS regular-season games across stints with Colorado, San Jose and Miami. His last league start came Sept. 21, 2024, for San Jose.
Implications for Toronto's season
Fraser frames Yarbrough as a consummate professional whose presence will push Gavran and stabilize the dressing room. The club expects the intra-squad competition to raise standards and provide reliability should injuries or form shifts force a change between the posts. The signing signals Toronto's priority to tighten defensive performance as it builds around new signings.
What this means for bettors
From a betting perspective, added goalkeeping depth and leadership often translate into improved defensive metrics over a season. Expect markets for under total goals and team clean sheets to react slightly in Toronto's favor, while early-season markets on the starting goalkeeper may list Gavran as the presumed starter — creating value opportunities for bettors willing to monitor lineup news.
Grupo Pachuca wants to return Chucky Lozano to Europe with Real Oviedo
TORONTO — Toronto FC got more than a healthy dollop of experience when it signed veteran goalkeeper William Yarbrough. It also acquired a boatload of energy.
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