Van der Wiel leaving Toronto FC after reported altercation with Vanney

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Last updated 16 abril 2025

Van der Wiel leaving Toronto FC after reported altercation with Vanney

Toronto FC's offseason overhaul is in full flow, and proceedings took a dramatic turn Wednesday night.Defender Gregory van der Wiel is now set to leave Toronto after a reported altercation with head coach Greg Vanney.Van der Wiel and Vanney needed to be separated after an argument during preseason training camp in California on Sunday, and the Dutchman was sent home Wednesday evening, a TFC source told The Athletic's Joshua Kloke, while adding that the defender will "never play for the club again."Van der Wiel confirmed the exit in an Instagram post, writing: "Dear Toronto. I called you home and I was so happy that I had finally found a place that felt like that. Year one had ups and downs but I found my joy back and I could not wait to get started this new season. I was ready to give it all."Unfortunately, year two will never come due to differences with the coaching staff. I just want to win and do that no matter what the consequences are. I guess that mentality was a little too much for them and they decided they do not need me for this season. Teammates and fans, I will miss you guys. All the best, Gregory van der Wiel."The 30-year-old is a two-time Eredivisie winner with Ajax and a four-time Ligue 1 champion with Paris Saint-Germain but played in just 16 combined league games across spells in Turkey and Italy in the two seasons before joining TFC.Toronto made a significant investment to recruit Van der Wiel last year as a replacement for Steven Beitashour, but the club had already considered releasing the defender over his attitude issues, according to TSN's Kristian Jack. Now, after 34 appearances for Toronto, the affair is over.The departure marks the eighth of a turbulent offseason for Toronto. Victor Vazquez left for Qatar, Nick Hagglund was traded to expansion franchise FC Cincinnati, while Tosaint Ricketts, Jason Hernandez, Clint Irwin, Ager Aketxe, and loanee Lucas Janson are all also out the door, at least for the time being.Those changes on the field have been mirrored in the boardroom, with Ali Curtis replacing general manager Tim Bezbatchenko, who moved to the Columbus Crew at the start of the calendar year.
Toronto FC's offseason overhaul is in full flow, and proceedings took a dramatic turn Wednesday night.Defender Gregory van der Wiel is now set to leave Toronto after a reported altercation with head coach Greg Vanney.Van der Wiel and Vanney needed to be separated after an argument during preseason training camp in California on Sunday, and the Dutchman was sent home Wednesday evening, a TFC source told The Athletic's Joshua Kloke, while adding that the defender will 'never play for the club again.'Van der Wiel confirmed the exit in an Instagram post, writing: 'Dear Toronto. I called you home and I was so happy that I had finally found a place that felt like that. Year one had ups and downs but I found my joy back and I could not wait to get started this new season. I was ready to give it all.'Unfortunately, year two will never come due to differences with the coaching staff. I just want to win and do that no matter what the consequences are. I guess that mentality was a little too much for them and they decided they do not need me for this season. Teammates and fans, I will miss you guys. All the best, Gregory van der Wiel.'The 30-year-old is a two-time Eredivisie winner with Ajax and a four-time Ligue 1 champion with Paris Saint-Germain but played in just 16 combined league games across spells in Turkey and Italy in the two seasons before joining TFC.Toronto made a significant investment to recruit Van der Wiel last year as a replacement for Steven Beitashour, but the club had already considered releasing the defender over his attitude issues, according to TSN's Kristian Jack. Now, after 34 appearances for Toronto, the affair is over.The departure marks the eighth of a turbulent offseason for Toronto. Victor Vazquez left for Qatar, Nick Hagglund was traded to expansion franchise FC Cincinnati, while Tosaint Ricketts, Jason Hernandez, Clint Irwin, Ager Aketxe, and loanee Lucas Janson are all also out the door, at least for the time being.Those changes on the field have been mirrored in the boardroom, with Ali Curtis replacing general manager Tim Bezbatchenko, who moved to the Columbus Crew at the start of the calendar year.