Zane Monlouis is set to leave Arsenal for Toronto FC, ending a 13-year spell at the club.
The 21-year-old seeks a fresh start in MLS after a stalled loan at Reading.
Zane Monlouis is on the verge of leaving Arsenal to join Toronto FC, bringing an end to his 13-year association with the club.
According to a report from Canada, the 21-year-old centre-back is set to sign with the Major League Soccer side as part of their ongoing squad rebuild under general manager Jason Hernandez.
Monlouis, who has captained Arsenal’s U21s, is out of contract this summer and has yet to make a senior appearance for the Gunners. His move to Toronto will mark a significant career shift for a player who has represented England at the U15 and U17 levels but remains eligible for Jamaica, having been called into the U23 setup last year.
A highly regarded product of Arsenal’s Hale End academy, Monlouis signed his first professional contract in October 2020. He made the matchday squad for Arsenal’s Champions League campaign earlier this season but never featured in a competitive fixture for Mikel Arteta’s first team.
His most recent taste of senior football came via a brief loan spell at Reading in League One last season. However, his time at the club was largely unremarkable, with Monlouis making just one senior appearance – a five-minute cameo against Fleetwood Town – before being relegated to the club’s U21 side for the remainder of the campaign.
Despite no reports of an injury, Reading manager Ruben Selles opted against selecting him regularly, stating only that Monlouis was “training well.” In total, he played just 73 minutes for Reading’s U21s compared to five for the first team, an experience that undoubtedly factored into his decision to seek opportunities elsewhere.
For Toronto FC, Monlouis’ arrival addresses a key need in central defense as the club looks to rebuild following a turbulent 2024 campaign. His addition follows the acquisitions of Ola Brynhildsen, who arrived on loan from FC Midtjylland, and Theo Corbeanu, who joined on loan from Granada CF.
At 21, Monlouis still has significant potential, and while his Arsenal journey never culminated in a first-team breakthrough, Toronto FC presents an opportunity for regular minutes in a competitive league. The move is expected to be finalised in the coming days as Toronto prepares for the upcoming MLS season.