Sprinter Andre De Grasse and former Canadian international Diana Matheson are shown at the Canadian women’s soccer Olympic qualifier against Jamaica at BMO Field, in Toronto in a Sept. 26, 2023, handout photo. De Grasse has invested in AFC Toronto FC, one of the teams in Matheson’s proposed women’s professional soccer leagueSprinter Andre De Grasse and former Canadian international Diana Matheson are shown at the Canadian women’s soccer Olympic qualifier against Jamaica at BMO Field, in Toronto in a Sept. 26, 2023, handout photo. De Grasse has invested in AFC Toronto FC, one of the teams in Matheson’s proposed women’s professional soccer league

TORONTO – Star sprinter Andre De Grasse has bought into AFC Toronto City, the local entry in the proposed Canadian women’s professional soccer league.

Th eight-team league, the brainchild of former Canadian international Diana Matheson, is scheduled to kick off in 2025.

“I was more thinking about it from a grassroots community side,” De Grasse, who played youth soccer with Toronto Azzurri, said in a phone interview. “Just trying to be a part of something that’s pretty cool.

“Bringing a women’s soccer league and having a franchise in Toronto is a pretty cool thing to have and I just hope that I can play a big part in it. Hopefully it can blow up into something big and go somewhere because obviously I’m a big fan of women’s soccer.”

The wheels had been in motion between De Grasse’s representation and Matheson for an investment since the league was launched in December 2022, waiting for management for a Toronto team to come together. AFC Toronto City was announced in April 2023.

The Markham, Ont., native was hosted by investors and the league, Project 8, at Canada’s women’s Sept. 26 Olympic qualifier game against Jamaica where they asked of his interest in being “on board.”

A spokesman for De Grasse declined to detail the amount of his investment.

The franchise fee for the new league is $1 million with a need for an estimated $8 million to $10 million in total invested capital over the first five seasons in addition to necessary spending on infrastructure. Owners are buying a piece of the league as well as their own franchise.

3 thoughts on “Star sprinter Andre De Grasse invests in AFC Toronto City women’s soccer team”
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