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The 2025 Canadian Premier League season kicks off April 5, as Canada’s top-flight domestic league enters its seventh season.

In the lead-up to matchday one, we at CanPL.ca will have all you need to know about each of the league’s eight clubs. To see every CPL team’s season preview, click here.

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They may not be the only team in town, but York United FC really are Toronto’s football club this year.

The Nine Stripes have spent the off-season building a roster full of local talent, and they’ll enter 2025 with 14 players either born or raised in the Greater Toronto Area. Mauro Eustáquio, newly appointed head coach after three years as an assistant, is ready to lead the club as they look to improve on a promising 2024 run.

Much has changed at York Lions Stadium this year, but with a strong mix of young talent and veteran experience, this is a team poised to make a splash in 2025.

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Story of 2024

• 2024 CPL regular season record (W-D-L): 11-6-11 (39 pts, 4th place)
• Goals scored: 35
• Goals against: 36
• Goal difference: -1
• Top scorer: Brian Wright (9)
• Canadian Championship: Lost in the preliminary round to Forge FC

The 2024 campaign was the best in York’s history as a club, as they topped their previous record points total by one and hosted a playoff game for the first time. They went on to bank their first ever postseason win in that 4 vs. 5 matchup against Pacific, and only bowed out of the playoffs after a thrilling quarter-final at Atlético Ottawa, which the Nine Stripes lost on penalties after it ended 2-2 over 120 minutes.

It was an odd year for York, though, with three different coaches manning the touchline at various times. Martin Nash, who had been in charge since 2022, was let go in the spring, and his assistant Mauro Eustáquio took the reins on an interim basis while they sought a new gaffer. Mexican coach Benjamín Mora arrived in June and from there, the club went on a steady run of momentum all the way to the playoffs.

Mora left after the season to return to Mexico, however, which means Eustáquio is now in charge on a permanent basis.

Arrivals and Departures

Players in:	Players out:
GK – Ivan Pavela	GK – Eleias Himaras
DF – Alexander Bergman	GK – Thomas Vincensini
DF – Cameron DaSilva	DF – Noah Abatneh
DF – Riley Ferrazzo	DF – Kadin Martin-Pereux
DF – Luke Singh	MF – Matthew Baldisimo
MF – Gabriel Bitar	MF – Trivine Esprit
MF – Steffen Yeates	MF – Tomas Giraldo
FW – Julian Altobelli	MF – Santiago Márquez
FW – Marsel Bibishkov	MF – Josué Martínez
FW – Massimo Ferrin	FW – Theo Afework
FW – Adonijah Reid	FW – Mo Babouli
	FW – Clément Bayiha
	FW – Jorge Guzmán
	FW – Dennis Salanovic
	FW – Brian Wright

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York’s 2025 squad will look markedly different from last season’s, especially in attack where they’ve lost lethal strike duo Brian Wright and Mo Babouli — both of whom have gone down the QEW to join Forge FC. The two combined for 15 goals and eight assists last season, which will be tough to replace.

However, the Nine Stripes will hope they’ve done that by bringing in players who know the league well, like Massimo Ferrin, Adonijah Reid and Gabi Bitar — who have a combined 32 goals and 25 assists in their CPL careers. Plus, Julian Altobelli potted 11 goals for Toronto FC II in MLS Next Pro last year.

In total, York added 328 games of Canadian Premier League experience this winter, five of those six players being GTA natives returning home.

Meanwhile, goalkeepers Thomas Vincensini and Eleias Himaras have moved on, while Ivan Pavela has signed a pro deal after a previous stint on a development contract.

2025 Outlook

It’s not a completely blank slate at York, with 11 returning players from last year and a head coach who has been with the club since 2022. However, it will still feel largely like a new team, with most of the key starters expected to be new, and Eustáquio adapting to life as a full-time head coach.

There are certainly goals in this team, with proven attacking talent, but the question might be how long it takes this group to establish an identity and build chemistry. Eustáquio has been measured in his comments so far this preseason, expressing belief in his team but also cautioning that this is a long-term project where results might not arrive immediately.

York have made the playoffs the last two years, and three of the last four, so returning to the postseason is a goal they’ll likely aim at. This is a team that can certainly go on a run of form good enough for a deep playoff campaign, too.

One other thing to watch with York this year is their young talent. Shola Jimoh, in particular, has made headlines ever since his breakout campaign as a 16-year-old last season. He’s likely to play an even bigger role in 2025, and with eyes on him from around the global football community, there’s a chance he gets an opportunity with an overseas club or even the Canadian men’s national team sooner rather than later.

What They’re Saying

“We’re putting the right pieces of the puzzle together. We’re really gelling as a team, on and off the field; it’s a good feeling. … A lot of [our] players know the CPL, know what it takes to travel around for a game, and I think that’s an advantage. They also have something they’re playing for; it was a big message in the off-season that we wanted to be closer to the community, and a lot of these players are from Toronto. They’re not only playing for themselves, for the badge, they’re also playing for their hometown. It’s good to see we’re all in the same boat.” — Mauro Eustáquio, head coach

“Being able to understand how we want to play and what I want for the team, I think everybody’s going to play a role. Everybody’s going to be in a position to succeed, and we scouted them for that reason. [Altobelli]’s going to make Reid better, Elijah [Adekugbe]’s going to make Steffen [Yeates] better; everybody has something to add to everybody else’s game.” — Mauro Eustáquio, head coach

Projected Starting XI

(4-3-3) Pavela; Ferrazzo, León, Sturing, Botello; Bitar, Adekugbe, Yeates; Ferrin, Reid, Ferrari

Eustáquio has some tough choices to make, especially in attack. Julian Altobelli is expected to play a significant role, as are young talents Markiyan Voytsekhovskyy and Shola Jimoh — who could even work his way into the XI despite starting the season before his 17th birthday. Massimo Ferrin seems the only guaranteed starter given his previous productivity in Halifax, but he could play multiple roles to accommodate others. Plus, Max Ferrari might still be preferred as a full-back option rather than on the wing.

There’s some depth at every position; Luke Singh, Nyal Higgins and Cameron DaSilva will compete for centre-back minutes, while Kembo Kibato is a strong option in midfield.

Perhaps the biggest question right now is whether 20-year-old Ivan Pavela is to be the day-one starting goalkeeper, or if York look to bring in a more experienced pair of gloves before the season.

Roster Notes

Domestic U-21	International	Loaned In
Ivan Pavela	Orlando Botello	Orlando Botello (CF Monterrey)
Alexander Bergman	Oswaldo León
Marsel Bibishkov
Shola Jimoh