TORONTO — Toronto FC signed Julian de Guzman as its designated player on Friday, bringing home the Canada midfielder after more than a decade in Europe.
"This is a dream come true for me, to be part of a professional team at this level in Toronto," de Guzman told a news conference. "I'm home again. Couldn't ask for anything better."
De Guzman, who signed a 31/2-year deal, became the first Canadian to play in Spain when he joined Deportivo in 2005. He spent four years in La Liga after five with two German teams before returning to MLS when Toronto pursued him.
"We made it happen and we think it's a wonderful signing," said Mo Johnston, Toronto FC's director of soccer.
De Guzman, who has made 40 appearances for Canada, can play both as a holding and attacking midfielder for Toronto (8-9-7). He left home at 16 after being discovered by French club Olympique Marseille and went to Germany to join lower-level club FC Saarbruecken before moving to Hannover 96 of the Bundesliga in 2002.
The designated player is a salary cap exception that allows MLS teams to sign marquee players such as David Beckham without going over the league payroll limit.
PEARCE JOINS FC DALLAS: U.S. national team defender Heath Pearce is joining FC Dallas after two seasons with Hansa Rostock in Germany.
The 25-year-old from Modesto, Calif., has made 28 appearances for the national team, including seven in World Cup qualifiers.
He attended the University of Portland, then signed in 2005 with Nordsjaelland in Denmark. He appeared in 31 games for Hansa Rostock. Dallas signed Pearce using its No. 1 allocation ranking in Major League Soccer. The club waived defender Steve Purdy to clear a roster spot and also said it had agreed with Alvaro Sanchez to end the forward/midfielder's contract.