Toronto FC academy product Ayo Akinola goes on trial with PSV

This article has been updated on Tuesday, November 14.

Toronto FC academy product Ayo Akinola has spent time on trial with Dutch club PSV and scored in a recent Under-19 match.

The USA youth international, who was born in Detroit but moved to Scarborough at a young age and is also eligible to represent Canada, has not played for TFC II this year and instead trained at the U.S. residency ahead of the Under-17 World Cup.

With that tournament now in the books, Akinola has spent time with the Eredivisie club’s youth side - coached by former Netherlands international Mark van Bommel - as he considers his next move.

Waking the Red understands TFC have not given up hope of signing the 17-year-old to a homegrown contract despite the fact that he has not worn a club uniform since the 2016 USL season and expect to hold talks over the coming months.

Akinola remains eligible to go to college despite his USL appearances as he never signed a professional deal - instead playing as an academy call-up - but at this stage that would appear an unlikely route for him to take.

At the end of October, Akinola appeared for PSV’s Under-19 side in a friendly against Belgian club Racing Genk. He scored the opening goal in a 5-0 win.

Akinola’s trial at PSV was reported by Eindhoven outlet ED.nl.

There has been no indication given that Akinola has signed for PSV, though, and he does not seem to have appeared in a more recent friendly against Roda JC this week.

TFC are likely to be due training compensation under FIFA rules if Akinola does decide to join a European club.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this article stated that Akinola was ineligible to go to college due to his USL appearances. That is incorrect, as he retained amateur status as an academy player and never signed a professional contract.