Toronto FC has signed Spanish playmaker Victor Vázquez to a multi-year contract extension.
Vázquez, 31, was an influential part of Toronto’s MLS Cup win in 2017, placing fourth in MLS Newcomer of the Year voting. He was signed using Targeted Allocation Money from Liga MX side Cruz Azul and has likely landed a pay raise beyond his existing $700,000 deal.
The ex-Barcelona player’s decision to re-sign is a major boost for Toronto amid suggestions he might look to finish his career in Spain.
That could still happen, but TFC has tied him up beyond the 2018 season and will retain him through his prime years. The deal brings him in line with other members of Toronto’s core, such as Sebastian Giovinco, whose contract runs through to the end of 2019.
And Vázquez, who notched eight goals and 16 assists during last year’s regular season, can imagine a scenario in which he retires in Canada.
“I’m really happy here,” he said. “I want to be here as many years as possible. Maybe I can finish my career here, why not? Because I feel like I’m at home in another place, another country.
“I’m feeling really comfortable, and I hope I can maybe re-sign again in a couple of years because I still have many years to play. My family is happy here, that’s the most important [thing] for me. I say it always: when they are happy, I’m happy.
“And the things inside the club, they are working well. It makes sense for all of us to re-sign again.”
Vázquez has not started a game since the opening day of the MLS season due to a nagging back problem, but hopes to be back in contention to face Real Salt Lake on March 30.
After that game, Toronto takes on Club América in the semifinals of the CONCACAF Champions League.
“It’s getting better,” he said of his injury. “I have time now to recover — I have 10 days more to get fit for the game against Salt Lake. I think I will be ready to be there and also against América.
“I’m looking forward to playing again. When you are injured, you feel like you are not helping the team and also because we lost again in Montreal and we have to change this [losing streak]. I think we want to change it right now on March 30.”
Signed after Toronto had been shut out in the 2016 MLS Cup final against the Seattle Sounders, Vázquez scored two goals in last season’s playoffs and provided the assist on the winning goal in the conference final against the Columbus Crew.
“Following the conclusion of the 2016 season, teams within MLS started to figure out they could sit back on us,” TFC general manager Tim Bezbatchenko said in a club release. “It was critical for our group to find a top-level talent that could help unlock teams and put us over the top.
“Victor ultimately would become that piece, helping us in our success last season in winning the treble. We are pleased to get this deal done so that Victor can help us defend our titles this season and beyond.”