Breaking: Toronto FC and Defender Damien Perquis Mutually Terminate Contract

Toronto FC's first summer transfer news has broken, and it is a player leaving the club. TFC announced tonight that they and defender Damien Perquis have come to a mutual agreement that sees his contract terminated.

Perquis was one of the most expensive players on the Toronto FC roster, making what was essentially a designated player contract at $427,000 in guaranteed compensation. Him leaving the club opens up a lot of salary cap space for Toronto FC to make moves this summer, and in the future.

In a press release, Toronto FC mentioned that this opened the possibility for Perquis to pursue other opportunities, which one would assume means he has a deal lined up elsewhere.

It was known for some time now that Toronto FC had a wealth at centreback, and one that they were interested in sharing with the rest of the team. Eriq Zavaleta emerged as a starting option, which looked to be the writing on the wall for Perquis and his contract.

After joining Toronto FC from Real Betis in Spain, Perquis played in 38 matches for Toronto FC in all competitions. He scored twice, including earlier this year against New York City FC, and added a pair of assists.

A fiery competitor, Perquis will likely be remembered for his intensity both on and off the field. It got him into trouble on a few occasions, but also made him a good pairing with Drew Moor in the Toronto backline.

At his best Perquis was strong in the air, and a good passer out of the back who helped transition the club from defence to attack. However, he was far too inconsistent for his paygrade as also dealt with several injury issues during his time in Major League Soccer.

With Perquis' contract off the books, the Tosaint Ricketts signing could be made officially within the next week. Ricketts has been training with the club. However, this also opens the door for the club to make an even more significant signing should they have someone in mind.