Toronto FC sign defender Domenico Criscito | OneFootball

Toronto FC have acquired Italian defender Domenico Criscito as his contract with Serie A side Genoa came to an end.

The Canadian side signed the player through the end of the 2023 Major League Soccer season, and completed the deal with Targeted Allocation Money.

“Mimmo is a player who will add a valuable veteran presence to our team,” Toronto FC president Bill Manning said in a release.

"He has played in a number of important games for his club and country in his career, has been a captain at Genoa, and we're excited he will be joining our club.”

The defender joins the American league after spending the majority of his professional career in Italy featuring for Genoa and Juventus. Criscito also saw a seven-year stint in Russia with FC Zenit, where he managed 20 goals in 224 appearances across all competitions – including the Russian Premier League, the Champions League and Europa League.

“Mimmo is a versatile defender who is a very good passer and a smart player,” said TFC head coach and sporting director Bob Bradley. “He can play as a left back or a center back and should be an excellent role model for our young players.”

His signing with the Canadian side coincides with the arrival of fellow Italian Lorenzo Insigne, who will be eligible to debut July 9 when Toronto host the San Jose Earthquakes. The team could use the boost from both players, as they sit in 11th place on the Eastern Conference table with only 18 points in 16 games and a record of 5W-8L-3D.