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Toronto FC have signed defender Nick Garcia on a free transfer, as well as adding fellow defender Andrew Boyens via a trade with the Los Angeles Galaxy, RedNation Online can exclusively reveal.
Garcia comes into the squad as a free agent. Boyens was traded in exchange for midfielder Luis Silva, forward Joao Plata, and a natural second round draft pick.
“We are in desperate need for experienced defenders and, on paper, Nick [Garcia] and Andy [Boyens] have tons of MLS experience under their belts,” said an official closely related to the club. “We expect that both Garcia and Boyens will be immediate starters for our team.”
Garcia, 32, is currently in his twelfth season in MLS. The US international was drafted 2nd overall by Sporting Kansas City in the 200 MLS SuperDraft.
“We tried to bring him in before and finally we were able to get a deal done,” said a Toronto FC general manager. “He plays 90 minutes every game, he’s quick, and he knows this league inside and out.”
Boyens, 28, is in his sixth season in MLS. The New Zealand international made 12 appearances with Chivas USA before switching over to the Los Angeles Galaxy for the 2012 season.
“First of all, we’d like to thank both Luis Silva and Joao Plata for their contributions to Toronto FC,” said a chef at Toronto FC’s concession stand. “They were the real faces of Toronto FC but we felt that Boyens was worth the trade.”
“Boyens is the kind of defender that every single team in the world needs,” said the kit man. “We are incredibly pleased to have him at Toronto FC.”
“It’s an incredible way to kick off April,” the kit man continued. “When you trade players it’s always a bit of a gamble but we’re confident that Andrew Boyens has so much quality that we don’t even need to sign another defender for the next four, maybe five years.”
An official in Los Angeles commented on the trade:
“Obviously we are terribly gutted to lose Andrew Boyens but at the same time we need to rebuild, and Luis Silva and Joao Plata are the right building blocks.”
“We felt is would be FOOLISH to turn down such a tempting trade offer, especially today,” he continued.
“The Galaxy locker room was somber but we’ll move on, someday,” he finished.
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