Toronto FC Acquire Refusal Rights for United States Youth International Ben Spencer

With the Major League Soccer season having opened this past weekend, Toronto FC have been making a series of small moves. None have shown up on their roster sheet just yet, but have been positioning the club for the future.

Today, the club acquired the rights of first refusal to American youth international Ben Spencer from Real Salt Lake in exchange for targeted allocation money. Toronto also traded targeted allocation money to the Seattle Sounders earlier this week for general allocation money.

Spencer currently plays for Molde FK in the in Norwegian Tippeligaen, who he joined in 2013. The 20-year-old forward has struggled to find playing time, however, as he has only appeared twice for Molde. He spent time last season with Toronto FC II on loan, but did not play as he was injured. Should he return to North American this deal gives Toronto FC the first opportunity to sign him.

The American has spent most of his time with Molde out on loan. He played 11 games in NASL in 2014 for Indy Eleven, scoring a pair of goals. At the academy level he split his time between Real Salt Lake and Chivas USA.

He has also featured for the American national team at several youth levels, the highest of which was Under-23. He has been a prolific goalscorer at the international level, scoring 3 goals in 6 games at the U-18 level. At the U-20 level he scored 2 goals in 5 matches.

If Toronto FC ends up signing him, as he is clearly on their radar, he will add to the club's striker depth. With Molham Babouli and Jordan Hamilton graduating to the senior team this year, Toronto FC II could use some players up front. The club could also have designs to play him with the senior squad, should they sign him.