Toronto have signed former Newcastle United midfielder Matty Longstaff on a free transfer.The 23-year-old had a catastrophic knee injury while on loan with League Two side Colchester United last season, and he is yet to play competitively in 2023-24.

Longstaff, who previously spent time on loan at Mansfield Town and Aberdeen, rose through the youth ranks at his hometown club Newcastle and scored on his Premier League debut against Manchester United in a 1-0 home victory in October 2019.

The midfielder, whose brother Sean Longstaff is a first-team regular with the Magpies, has made 20 senior appearances for the club in all competitions, the latest of which came away against Arsenal in January 2021.

Longstaff was offered the option to join Serie A side Udinese in 2020, but the move fell through. The midfielder was eventually released by Newcastle after his contract expired last summer, and he has since been patiently looking for a new club.

After a 14-month injury layoff, Longstaff is eager to resume his career in MLS with Toronto, where he has signed a two-year contract with an option to extend until 2026.

“I’m thrilled to welcome Matty to our squad,” Toronto head coach John Herdman stated on the club’s official website. “His Premier League experience and dynamic playing style will add depth to our midfield and complement our tactical blueprint.”

In an October 2018 interview with SportBible, Longstaff reflected on his time at Newcastle, saying: “You go from being at the top to the bottom. I suppose Sean and I have both had that experience.

“When Sean initially came through in Newcastle, he was flying. He was everywhere, and then he was at the bottom, just like me.

“I came through, performed admirably, and was then loaned out before finishing at the bottom. It is football. This is simply one of those things. You experience highs and lows.

“When I was breaking through, I was at the top, and right now, with the injury and everything, I’m definitely at the bottom, but I guess when you’re there, there’s only one place to go. I’m really driven to return. “I want to be a top player.”

Longstaff will join former Birmingham City defender Kevin Long, another new signing, and experienced Italy international Lorenzo Insigne at Toronto, which finished last year at the bottom of the Eastern Conference and drew 0-0 with FC Cincinnati in their first game of the 2024 season last weekend.