Toronto FC coach Greg Vanney called the re-signing of defender Eriq Zavaleta to a new deal a mere “formality” when pre-season training camp officially opened on Monday.
Roughly 24 hours later it became a reality as the Reds announced it had inked Zavaleta to a new contract. Terms of the deal were not announced.
“Over the past three years, Toronto has become home for me. I couldn’t be more excited and thankful to remain a part of this team and organization as we continue to push ourselves to be the best we can be,” Zavaleta told Sportsnet.
The club’s decision to trade for Zavaleta — who is Vanney’s nephew — before the 2015 season has paid off big dividends.
Zavaleta, 25, has been one of TFC’s most consistent defenders since joining the team via a swap with the Seattle Sounders. Since then, he’s appeared in 36 games in all competitions, and was a key figure in Toronto’s back-to-back MLS Cup runs the past two years.
Signing Zavaleta to a new deal was an off-season priority for Toronto after right fullback Steven Beitashour explored free agency and signed with expansion club Los Angeles FC.
Zavaleta was selected 10th overall in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft, coincidentally with a pick the Sounders acquired in a trade with TFC earlier in the day.
But Zavaleta, a promising prospect out of the University of Indiana, ended up making just five appearances for the Sounders. Twice he was sent out on loan to the now-defunct Chivas USA, and to the San Antonio Scorpions of the second-tier NASL. After his loan stint with Chivas ended following the 2014 season, Seattle started shopping him around and traded him to Toronto prior to the 2015 MLS season, bringing an end to his ill-fated tenure with the West Coast club.
After getting his feet wet in his first year in Toronto, Zavaleta came into his own in 2016 as he established himself as a regular starter during the second half of the season.
It was more of the same last season for Zavaleta, who started 27 games, most of them to the right of veteran Drew Moor in Toronto’s three-man defence. He was an iron man of sorts, racking up 2,356 minutes of playing time in the regular season – behind only captain Michael Bradley, Justin Morrow and Victor Vazquez.
“Since joining Toronto FC, Eriq has developed into a core member of this team as well as a leader both on and off the field,” GM Tim Bezbatchenko said in a media release.
“He has been an important part of our club for the past few years and we are happy to ensure he is back this season as we defend our championships.”
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