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Toronto FC hope they have found a real gem in center-back Shane O’Neill, a son from Emerald Isle.
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The TFC will officially announce the signing of the former Seattle Sounders standout on Wednesday (first reported by the Toronto Sun).
O’Neill is the first addition to the TFC list since Bob Bradley was hired as head coach and sports director, taking over respectfully from Javier Perez and Ali Curtis. The native of Midleton, County Cork, O’Neill’s addition team is very welcome. The Reds need improvements on the back line to say the least, giving up the second most goals in the MLS last season (66) for a goal difference of minus 27. TFC did not take advantage of the contract opportunities on veteran center-back Omar. Gonzalez and Eriq Zavaleta at the end of the 2021 MLS season, so the need for the backline is great.
O’Neill was born in Ireland but joined the US Soccer Development Academy with the Colorado Rapids youth system in 2009. He led the Rapids U18 team to score in 2011-12 with 10 goals in 15 games, helping them reach the playoffs . The 28-year-old signed with Rapids as a Home Grown player in June 2012 and played 52 games for Colorado. He was bought by the Cypriot club Apollon Limassol in August 2015 and spent three years in Europe before coming to Orlando City back in the MLS in June 2018. O’Neill came to Seattle in January 2020 and made his Sounders debut on the 20th. February, when he came in. who substitutes against CD Olimpia in the Concacaf Champions League. He scored his first goal for the club in the 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs on December 1 against FC Dallas. O’Neill played 45 games for Seattle over two seasons.
Internationally, O’Neill has played for both the US U20 and U23 teams and has expressed a willingness to accept a call to his native Ireland. He was called up to the US senior team for a friendly match against Panama in February 2015.
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