Toronto FC has added some muscle and experience to its back line.
The team announced Monday that it has signed Polish international defender Damien Perquis.
This comes on the heels of last Wednesday’s news that Real Betis, who compete in Spain’s second division, released the 30-year-old Perquis from his contract. This allowed Perquis to join the MLS club on a free transfer.
“Damien’s signing addresses an area we wanted to improve upon this off-season. His experience and leadership both at club and international level will be a welcomed addition to our team,” said TFC general manager Tim Bezbatchenko in a statement released by the team.
“Damien has a great defensive sense and will provide an upside on the ball with his strong distribution from the back. We are very excited to bring him to Toronto FC.”
TFC also announced Monday that it has acquired defender Eriq Zavaleta from the Seattle Sounders in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft.
“Adding a player like Eriq gives us another defender with MLS experience,” said Bezbatchenko. “He is a young and versatile player with the ability to both defend and attack.”
Zavaleta, 22, spent the 2014 season on loan at Chivas USA from Seattle, where he made 17 appearances and started in 15 matches for Chivas. In two seasons between Seattle and Chivas, Zavaleta has made a combined 22 appearances. He was originally selected 10th overall by Seattle in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft.
Perquis, a French-born centre back, spent the bulk of his career in Ligue Un, France’s first division, before joining Betis in 2012.
Although born in the French city of Troyes, he plays internationally for Poland’s national team—he’s eligible to represent Poland through his grandparents.
The arrival of Perquis will be a big addition to a Toronto FC side lacking defensive depth, especially in the wake of Canadian Doneil Henry’s departure to West Ham United.
Captain Steven Caldwell lacks an experienced partner in the centre of defence, as second-year defender Nick Hagglund is still learning on the job. Perquis will fill that void, and is someone who Caldwell would not have to babysit while at the same time trying to anchor the defence.
TFC coach Greg Vanney is very familiar with Perquis, as he went up against the Polish defender when he played for Bastia in the French league during his playing career.
“We’ve watched him and I’ve played against him,” Vanney told the Toronto Sun last month. “He’s a guy we’ve kept interest in and have watched him progress while he has been there.”
Toronto FC has been busy this off-season, adding a key attacking piece in Juventus midfielder Sebastian Giovinco, and swapping Jermain Defoe with Sunderland for American forward Jozy Altidore.
But the defence remains a work in progress, a fact acknowledged by general manager Tim Bezbatchenko who at the Giovinco press conference earlier this week said he wasn’t satisfied with the state of Toronto’s back line.