The Halifax Wanderers have acquired Canadian U-21 defender Adam Pearlman on a season-long loan from MLS side Toronto FC. Pearlman, 19, has already racked up an impressive 73 appearances between MLS and MLS Next Pro, logging over 6,000 minutes over the past three seasons. He made his MLS debut for Toronto FC in 2023. “Adam is another promising young Canadian talent we are pleased to welcome to Halifax this season,” sporting director Matt Fegan said. “During his time so far in Toronto and for national youth teams, he has displayed a high technical ability and professionalism. We are looking forward to this collaboration with TFC on his continued development and thrilled Adam chose Wanderers among his offers for this important next step of his career.” Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Pearlman moved to Canada at a young age, playing for several Toronto area clubs before earning an invitation to the Toronto FC academy in 2016. In 2022, Pearlman signed with TFC II in MLS Next Pro and made 22 appearances in his rookie season as TFC II advanced to the league’s semi-final. This past season, Pearlman was an important member of Canada’s U-20 men’s national team, making five starts during the team’s run through the Concacaf Under-20 Championship, along with an additional 24 appearances for TFC II. With his signature, the Wanderers roster includes three members of the latest Canada U-20 squad, with Pearlman alongside Tavio Ciccarelli and Alessandro Biello — not to mention former Wanderers Ethan Schilte-Brown and Kimani Stewart-Baynes, who were also part of that squad. “Adam gives us an incredible combination of size and pace, which allows him to play anywhere across our backline,” Wanderers head coach Patrice Gheisar said. “He fits the profile of our team perfectly because he is also great on the ball, finding splits and making forward passes. It’s amazing that he’s just 19 and has over 70 games of pro experience.” As part of the agreement, Pearlman cannot be recalled by Toronto FC during the Wanderers’ 2025 season. Pearlman’s on-field minutes contribute towards the club’s requirement of 2,000 domestic U21 minutes during the regular season. However, as a loaned player, Pearlman’s minutes count for a maximum of 1,000 minutes toward that requirement.
Written by:Charlie O'Connor Clarke