Toronto FC loan defender Julian Dunn to Valour FC for ‘The Island Games’

Toronto FC and Toronto FC II loaned a pair of players to Canadian Premier League side Valour FC on Monday morning, as defender Julian Dunn and defender/midfielder Dante Campbell became the latest youngsters to go on loan to the league ahead of The Island Games.

Last week, left back Terique Mohammed made the move to FC Edmonton on loan from TFC II.

Dunn, 20, is has been with Toronto FC for years, starting in the academy and quickly rising up all the way to the first team. He made his Toronto FC II debut in 2017, 10 days before his 17th birthday. Dunn signed a Homegrown contract shortly after that, going on to make his first-team debut in 2018. The centre-back made two MLS appearances while Greg Vanney rotated the squad for the CONCACAF Champions League, but hasn’t made a first team appearance since.

He spent 2019 with TFC II, missing a significant chunk of the season for an undisclosed reason, likely due to injury. Part of the 30-player roster, Dunn had his contract option picked up by The Reds prior to the start of the year and traveled down to Orlando with the team for the MLS Is Back Tournament.

Campbell, 21, is another Toronto FC Academy product, but has yet to sign a first-team deal with the team. He’s been playing with Toronto FC II since 2016, spending time in central midfield, but also at right back. His versatility could prove very useful for Valour as they’ll need to rotate players during a short, tournament-style season.

Both players have represented Canada at various youth levels, and will link up with former TFC II and Canada teammate Shaan Hundal in Winnipeg.

The two loan moves complete Valour’s 23-man roster, and with many clubs either having completed or are close to completing their rosters, these may be the last Toronto FC to CPL loan moves ahead of Thursday’s opening match. Stay tuned, however, there are still clubs in need of some last-minute additions.

Toronto FC II also agreed to loan 2020 MLS SuperDraft first-round pick Nyal Higgins to Swedish club Nyköpings BIS (third division).

The 22-year-old Ajax, Ontario native was taken six spots ahead of first-team standout Achara in the January draft, but underwhelmed in Toronto FC training camp, being cut before ultimately agreeing on a deal with Toronto FC II on June 30, 2020.

Higgins will look to get back on track overseas with consistent playing time, but we don’t know much about the quality of the Swedish third division.