Toronto FC signs 15-year-old Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty as homegrown player
Toronto FC has signed 15-year-old midfielder Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty as a homegrown player, making him the youngest player ever to sign with the first team.
The native of Brampton, Ont., who turns 16 in June, is no stranger to setting records. He was 14 when he signed with Toronto FC 2 on Dec. 17, 2018, becoming the youngest player to sign with the reserve side.
Marshall-Rutty becomes the 22nd player in club history to sign for the first team from the Toronto academy. Prior to Marshall-Rutty, the youngest player to sign a first-team contract with Toronto was defender Doneil Henry who was 17 when he signed in 2010.
“Jahkeele is the top player in his age group across Canada and the U.S, and he is among the top young players in all of North America,” GM Ali Curtis said in a statement. “He is an incredibly talented young man. While he’s only 15 years old, he plays the game in very mature way. He had interest from many top clubs in Europe.