Toronto FC part ways with Insigne and Bernardeschi

Toronto FC reached mutual agreements to terminate the contracts of Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi, the club announced Tuesday.

The two Italians will now become free agents, and the move will open up two Designated Player (DP) spots on Toronto FC's roster.

Bernardeschi is in talks to return to Italy with Bologna, according to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano.

Insigne and Bernardeschi were among the highest-paid players in Major League Soccer in 2025. Insigne's $15.4-million salary was second behind only Lionel Messi this season, while Bernardeschi ranked sixth. Combined, the underperforming stars had a guaranteed compensation of $21.6 million this year, which is more than the total payroll of all but seven clubs in the league.

The move brings to an end a bitterly disappointing era for TFC.

Insigne and Bernardeschi, shortly after being crowned Euro 2020 champions with Italy, arrived in Toronto as free agents amid much fanfare in 2022. The former left boyhood club Napoli before joining the Canadian team, while the latter was previously at Juventus.

They were both recruited by former club president Bill Manning, who himself parted ways with TFC last year. That move came shortly after Keith Pelley was named CEO of MLSE, the club's parent company.

Pelley said Tuesday that the DP strategy is a "critical component to Toronto FC's success."

Neither Insigne nor Bernardeschi ever looked truly comfortable in MLS.

Insigne, in particular, was a source of constant frustration for fans and multiple coaching staffs. He registered only 15 goals in 66 MLS games, and missed significant stretches of time with injury in each of his three years in Toronto.

Bernardeschi was able to produce decent numbers in 2024 and, in general, looked more content than his compatriot, but he too ultimately failed to live up to the significant hype. The left-footed playmaker racked up 25 goals and 12 assists in 88 league appearances.

TFC haven't made the playoffs since the former Italian internationals arrived, and finished last in the league in 2023.

The club is struggling again this season, with just four wins in 19 league matches thus far.