TORONTO – Toronto FC continued adding to its roster on Monday, announcing the signing of Polish international central defender Damien Perquis as well as the acquisition of Eriq Zavaleta from the Seattle Sounders.
After the offseason departure of Doneil Henry to West Ham United, Toronto FC identified a need for reinforcements at the center of defense. TFC head coach Greg Vanney said the club had chased the signature of Perquis for a little over a month, and made the signing official after the Poland national teamer terminated his contract with Spanish side Real Betis.
“Perquis is a leader,” Vanney told reporters during the club’s media day on Monday. “He’s aggressive, and he’s a guy who doesn’t give away a lot of space to the attackers. He gets tight and he challenges for balls coming in to forwards. He’s a leader in terms of his line and the communication with everyone in the back line. He’s a no-nonsense fellow.”
Perquis, 30, said the decision to join Toronto FC came after a few phone calls to some of his friends in the league, including Philadelphia Union midfielder Vincent Nogueira and New England Revolution forward Charlie Davies, both of whom Perquis played with at French Ligue 1 club Sochaux.
“I spoke a lot with Davies and he said to me, ‘Bro, you must be here, because the [future of] football is here,’” Perquis said. “So when I visited the club and the training ground too, I said ‘Okay, I would like being here.’”
For Vanney, Perquis doesn’t merely add much-needed depth in the back line – he also provides the team with the right kind of playing style to fit with the club’s defensive strategy, too.
“Perquis is a guy who’s definitely going to have presence when there’s time to have presence on the attackers,” Vanney said. “That’s part of our strategy; we don’t want to concede space this year. We want to take away space and look to get the ball back as soon as we can.”
Toronto FC traded a second-round pick in next year’s SuperDraft to the Sounders in exchange for Zavaleta, who is Vanney’s nephew. The No. 10 pick in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft, Zavaleta started his career as a forward, but Vanney says he sees the player as a defender first and foremost.
“His strength is in his ability to read the game and see what’s happening and position himself accordingly,” Vanney said. “He’s comfortable on the ball and I know from my experience with him that’s his most comfortable position and the position we see him developing in.”
The 22-year-old Zavaleta, who made 15 regular season appearances while on loan last year at Chivas USA, agreed his best position is in the back line, and added that he isn't be expecting any special treatment from Vanney, despite their family ties.
“He’s my coach,” Zavaleta said. “If anything, the expectations may be higher and I accept those challenges. I think him and [TFC assistant] Robin Fraser and the whole coaching staff is a very talented young staff in this league and have what it takes to take this team to the playoffs, and I’m excited for that. So, no, I think things will be more difficult for me more than easier for me, for sure.”
