Toronto, ON – August 27, 2025 – York United FC’s Academy has taken major strides in its first full year of competition, completing its inaugural League1 Ontario Championship season with a fifth-place finish and one of the league’s most potent attacks. The U20 side, with an average age of just 18.7, proved that young talent from the Greater Toronto Area can thrive in a professional environment—scoring 39 goals and earning recognition both at home and abroad.
Building on that foundation, the program now evolves to a U21 team while also adding a brand-new U19 squad, further strengthening the club’s player development pathway.
In this episode of The Pathway, members of York United reflect on what this expansion means for the club and the future of Canadian soccer.
For President and Owner Ricardo Pasquel, the ambition goes beyond results on the pitch. "We believe the Canadian talent that exists in Canada and specifically in the Toronto GTA area. We want to give these players an opportunity to become professional, create that pathway, that culture that exists in other countries around the world. We are very proud that five national teams have reached out to us for invitations for our Academy players. So this exposure that being in a pro Academy gives you, it’s unmatched and we’re very proud of that, and we’re going to continue growing.”
Head Coach Mauro Eustáquio sees the Academy expansion as the natural continuation of a project designed from the very beginning. “Since day one for us, we wanted to build… with the Pasquel brothers coming in, they’re big on Canadian soccer and on building the pathway. So I think it’s super important that we had our second team in the League1 system. And it just makes sense for us to get a U19 and to continue to grow.”
For Silviu Butnaru, Academy Head Coach, the focus is always opportunity. “For me, what’s the most important thing—and the vision that we have here at the club—is to give as many opportunities as possible to everyone that wants to come and do a tryout. I want this to grow into probably the best, biggest Academy in Canada.”
The pathway is already being lived by the players themselves. Shola Jimoh, who is part of the First Team, recognises its impact: “I think it’s a good stepping stone. I think now if there are really good players with high potential, they could at least be training with the First Team.”
At the Academy level, Angelos Zorbas represents the promise of what lies ahead. “I started playing soccer when I was 3 or 4. My dad used to play pro in Greece and he always just had balls around the house, and we used to play in the backyard just for fun. I joined the Academy because it was a good opportunity. There’s a clear pathway from the Academy to the First Team. It’s a great opportunity for young players like myself to have a chance to go pro. At 16, I was able to make my debut in League1 Ontario, which is a men’s league, and I wouldn’t have had the opportunity without York United. I generally enjoy football—I can’t really live without it.”
Academy Tryouts
As part of this vision, York United FC will host Academy tryouts this fall at the Zanchin Automotive Soccer Centre in Vaughan. Sessions in September and October are open to male players born between 2006 and 2010 who hold Canadian citizenship or permanent residency.
Led by professional coaching staff, these sessions form the first step in a structure directly connected to the CPL First Team. For aspiring athletes, it is the chance to begin their own journey along The Pathway.
