January 30, 2025...AFC Toronto Signs Former Canadian Youth National Team Player Ashley Cathro (from AFC Toronto news release)

AFC Toronto Signs Former Canadian Youth National Team Player Ashley Cathro
Defender embraces chance to make history with Northern Super League

Toronto, ON (January 30, 2025) - AFC Toronto is thrilled to announce Canadian defender Ashley 
Cathro as its latest player signing ahead of the 2025 Northern Super League season. The 25-year.old, 
who spent the last six years at the University of Illinois, is another example of AFC Toronto’s 
commitment to helping Canadians kickstart their professional careers through new pathways.

Originally from Victoria, B.C., Cathro moved to Vancouver during high school to participate in the
Vancouver Whitecaps Girls Elite REX program on a full-time basis. It was here where she 
developed her skills en route to representing Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team at the U.17 
and U-20 level, including at the 2016 U-17 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Cathro later earned two
invitations to training camps with the senior national team in 2017 and 2021.


Image: Ashley Cathro poses during a media session with the University of Illinois. 
Credit: Image provided by player.

For five seasons, Cathro was an integral part of the women’s soccer program at the University of 
Illinois excelling as a left full-back or playing on the left side of a back three. Her reliability led to 
her breaking the record for the most Big Ten starts (48) in program history. Cathro later played for 
Racing Louisville in the USL W League, the United States’ premier pre-professional women’s 
soccer circuit. Now with AFC Toronto, she returns to Canada to be a part of women’s sport history.

“My soccer career was slightly on hold so I was pursuing my PhD at the University of Illinois, but 
when this opportunity presented itself, it was one I couldn’t turn down. A professional women’s 
soccer league in Canada was always in the talks for a long time coming, but seeing it come to 
fruition is extremely exciting,” said Ashley Cathro on signing with the club. 

“AFC Toronto hands me an opportunity to be part of the city’s rich sport history and help push 
women’s soccer forward in Canada. It’s certainly a project I wanted to be a part of and I can’t wait 
to get started. I want to show the next generation that there is a pathway in Canada now.”

“Ashley is someone who had a fantastic collegiate career at Illinois and is someone who was 
highly regarded by the Canada Soccer program,” added Billy Wilson, AFC Toronto Sporting 
Director.

“Left-sided defenders are notoriously difficult to find, and as a team who wants to be in possession 
and build from the back, we believe Ashley will provide us with natural balance. She developed a 
great foundation with the Whitecaps and we were able to tap into some people we trust who 
worked with her at youth national team level. We know we are getting a player with a lot of upside
and are excited to bring someone with her pedigree to the club.”

Alongside the U-17 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Cathro represented Canada in the U-17 Concacaf 
Championships, CFA International Women’s Youth Football Tournament and U-20 Concacaf 
Championships alongside other competitions.

Addition pictures:

..

(left to right)
Ashley Cathro plays the ball during a game for the University of Illinois. 
Credit: Image provided by player.
Ashley Cathro participates in a training session with the University of Illinois. 
Credit: Image provided by player.
Ashley Cathro participates during a training program with Canada Soccer. 
Credit: Image provided by player

AFC Toronto will continue to announce additional player signings in the near future.
To keep up with AFC Toronto’s exciting updates, register for the club newsletter and follow AFC 
Toronto on Instagram, Twitter, Linkedin and TikTok.

About AFC Toronto
AFC Toronto is a founding club in the new Canadian women's professional soccer league, the
Northern Super League. The club is gearing up to deliver a top-tier experience for players, staff, 
and supporters in spring 2025. AFC Toronto is committed to uniting the community and inspiring
young women and girls to lead, develop, and excel. The club’s purpose is to not just build a 
football club but to also create a platform for girls and women to achieve greatness on their terms.

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