January 31, 2025...York United announce signing of Canadian attacker Julian Altobelli (from canpl.ca)
York United announce signing of Canadian attacker Julian Altobelli
2025-01-31
York United FC announced on Friday the signing of attacker Julian Altobelli on a one-year guaranteed contract, plus a club
option for an additional twelve months.
The 22-year-old is fresh from the best season of his career, having netted 11 times and adding a further four assists
as he captained Toronto FC II in MLS NEXT Pro. In the process, Altobelli – a native of Woodbridge, Ont – became the first
player in club history to score in nine consecutive appearances.
Altobelli joined the Toronto FC Academy in 2014 as an 11-year-old and continued through the ranks until he was signed
by The Nine Stripes in the summer of 2020. Illness disrupted his ability to contribute minutes at The Island Games,
though he made the bench on three occasions.
“I’m super excited to be back,” Altobelli says.”When I came here for the first time, I was only 17 years old. I didn’t
have any experience and didn’t know what to expect. Moving to TFC and getting a taste of training with the first team,
playing so much with TFC II…I’m coming back here as a man now. I feel like I’m ready for this opportunity and excited
to get to work.”
At the end of the year, Altobelli signed with TFC II and made his United Soccer League (USL) debut in May 2021, scoring
twice in 23 appearances. The following season, he significantly improved his tallies, netting five times and grabbing
four assists in 23 games. His performances in the following 2023 campaign attracted the attention of the first team
and he was signed to a short-term Major League Soccer contract in October 2023, included in the game-day squad for
a clash with Charlotte FC.
The following year, as his blistering form took hold in MLS NEXT Pro, he signed another short-term contract with TFC
and was named in the squad for three games in 2024: one MLS fixture against Philadelphia and two Leagues Cup assignments
versus Pachuca and Inter Miami.
Overall, he made 94 appearances for TFC II in four seasons, scored 21 times and added 11 assists.
“I know what high standards are and I hold myself to those standards every day,” Altobelli says. “I feel like I’m in really
good form right now and I can’t wait to get started. Having so many local players on the roster is really special and any
of them will tell you that having your family and friends at every game gives you extra motivation to get the job done.
I want to win. That’s the most important thing for me. I want to bring this city and this club to its first championship,
score lots of goals and get lots of assists.”
It’s been a busy few weeks for the club with a litany of signings announced, but president Ricardo Pasquel reveals
a comprehensive roster build is almost complete.
“Julian is the latest jigsaw piece and another important one,” he says.”We were watching him closely throughout last
season and are well aware of his ability. He offers so much in the final third. He’s smart, polished and is always looking
to create something. He can pull a goal or assist from thin air and for a young man, he brings a ton of experience.
He was a captain last season too, a testament to his leadership qualities and how he’s perceived by his peers. We’re very
excited by what he’ll contribute.
“We’re inching closer to the squad being finalized now. A couple of faces to unveil in the coming weeks, just in time
for pre-season.”
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