AFC Toronto parts ways with five players in end-of-season roster announcement
Written by The Canadian Press on December 15, 2025
TORONTO — AFC Toronto has parted ways with five players, three of whom were sidelined with injury during the Northern Super League’s inaugural season.
Canadians Mya Jones, Leah Pais and Sonia Walk did not see action with Toronto due to injury. South Korean defender Hong Hye-ji and Japanese midfielder Aoi Kizaki, the club’s first two international signings, are also not returning.
Hong appeared in six matches, all starts, totalling 495 minutes during AFC Toronto’s inaugural season. The South Korean international defender, who has 40 caps to her credit, arrived from Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels WFC.
Kizaki made 15 appearances, including four starts, with one goal and two assists. She played more than 100 matches in Japan’s Women’s Empowerment (WE) League before joining Toronto.
“Everyone at the club would like to place on record our sincere thanks to Hye-ji, Aoi, Mya, Leah and Sonia for believing in our project and for laying the foundations of AFC Toronto,” Toronto sporting director Billy Wilson said in a statement. “Each of these players have contributed in their own way to our success in 2025 and we wish them all the best in the next chapters of their lives.”
Veteran Canadian forward Jade Kovacevic announced her retirement last week.
Toronto topped the NSL regular-season standings at 16-6-3, downing the Montreal Roses in semifinal playoff action before falling 2-1 to the Vancouver Rise in the Nov. 15 championship game at BMO Field.
The Calgary-born Jones, who joined Toronto on loan from the NWSL’s San Diego Wave, was sidelined for the duration of the 2025 season due to a problematic foot injury that dates back to October 2024. After Jones was cleared to return earlier this year, she spent several months training with Toronto but eventually had to stop due to the pain.
Forward Pais and defender Walk were placed on the season-ending injury list in early June after undergoing knee surgery.
Pais underwent surgery to repair a long-term knee issue while Walk was diagnosed a meniscus injury after completing rehabilitation from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Pais, a native of Mississauga, Ont., joined Toronto from Iceland’s Thróttur Reykjavík FC. Walk, a Toronto native, arrived from Boston College.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 15, 2025.
Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press