The Swiss defender joins the Reds to provide competition at left-back.
Toronto FC confirmed on Thursday that they have finalised the signing of Jonas Elmer from Swiss Challenge League side FC Winterthur.
“We believe Jonas will be an important part of our club,” Toronto FC President and GM Kevin Payne said in a club statement,”While he’s still young, he has solid European experience and we’re pleased to welcome him to Toronto.”
Elmer has plenty of experience in the Swiss Super League. A Chelsea academy graduate under Jose Mourinho, he spent three seasons with FC Aarau, accumulating 52 league appearances.
In 2010 he moved to FC Sion, but failed to secure a regular first team place. At his last club, Winterthur, Elmer has emerged as a key player for the side playing every minute of league football in the team’s opening six fixtures this season.
The signing isn’t quite such good news for incumbent TFC left-back and Toronto native Ashtone Morgan, who will now be expected to prove his worth over Elmer following some shaky performances so far this season.
Toronto are currently struggling second from bottom in the Eastern Conference, with the fifth worst defensive record in all of MLS. Elmer may not be able to turn his new team’s defensive woes around single-handed, but it’s certainly a first step for rookie head coach Ryan Nelsen.
Watch Elmer’s first interview with Toronto FC here: