Toronto FC added another experienced piece to their roster on Thursday, signing 33-year-old French midfielder Benoit Cheyrou.
Cheyrou spent the last seven years at French club Olympique de Marseille, recording 28 goals and 42 assists in 304 games across all competitions for the club and earning Ligue 1 Team of the Year honors in 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10. The deep-lying midfielder helped L’OM to the 2009-10 Ligue 1 title and three straight Coupe de la Ligue titles from 2010-12.
Cheyrou also has extensive experience in European competition, having suited up for Marseille in the UEFA Champions League and in the UEFA Cup/Europa League.
“Benoit’s vision and his ability to distribute the ball are two very distinct qualities that have made him such a successful player throughout his career, both domestically in France and in European competition,” Toronto FC general manager Tim Bezbatchenko said in a club statement. “He has a wealth of experience and success and is another important piece that complements the ones we currently have in place. We are very excited to bring him to Toronto FC.”
Part of France's squad that won the 2000 European U-19 championship, Cheyrou began his professional career with Lille, making 100 league appearances for the club from 1999-2004. He moved from there to Auxerre, notching 113 appearances across all competitions and earning club captain honors in his final season before leaving for Marseille in the summer of 2007.
Cheyrou’s signing adds another veteran hand to Toronto FC, which last week signed 30-year-old French defender Damien Perquis, a Polish international, and earlier this offseason added Designated Players Jozy Altidore and Sebastian Giovinco to slot in with DP and US international Michael Bradley.
The move comes on the heels of a trade in which Toronto sent forward Dominic Oduro to the Montreal Impact in exchange for allocation money.
“I’m very excited to sign for Toronto FC,” Cheyrou said in the club statement. “I cannot wait to wear the jersey and join my new teammates.”
