Toronto FC starts season with only 2 designated players, sign defender Zane Monlouis

Toronto FC has opted to go with two designated players — for accounting purposes —- to start the season.

And the club is trying to get rid of one of them.

Major League Soccer allows for two roster models — one with three designated players and up to three U-22 Initiative players, and the other with up to two designated players and up to four U-22 Initiative players, a model that comes with up to an additional US$2 million of general allocation money.

Teams can change their roster model midseason.

Toronto confirmed Saturday it is going with the two DP model to start the season, with Canadian fullback Richie Laryea no longer counting as a designated player for salary cap purposes.

Italians Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi remain as designated players although the club is actively seeking to part ways with Insigne, who is under contract through June 2026.

This season, teams have been given a salary budget of $5.95 million for the senior roster, which numbers between 18 and 20 players.

Designated players and U-22 Initiative players both get salary cap breaks.

Only $743,750 of a designated player's salary counts against the cap. Insigne made $15.4 million last season while Bernardeschi earned $6.295 million and Laryea $1.31 million.

It appears Toronto doesn't need the DP designation for Laryea to fit under the cap.

Clubs can also "buy down" the salary budget charge of a DP using general allocation money.

Depending on their age, only $150,000 or $200,000 of a U-22 Initiative players counts against the cap.

Toronto currently only has one U-22 Initiative player in South African winger Cassius Mailula, who is on loan to Morocco's Wydad AC.

Toronto GM Jason Hernandez has said he favoured the two DP model this season, with