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TORONTO — As Toronto FC announced the signing of free-agent forward Johann Smith yesterday, it was also preparing to say goodbye to midfielder Maurice Edu, who is on the verge of leaving for Rangers of the Scottish Premier League for a $5-million (U.S.) transfer fee.
Edu, last year's Major League Soccer rookie of the year, has just returned from the Beijing Olympics after the United States was eliminated by Nigeria 2-1 this week.
MLS is reported to have accepted the Rangers' offer and now it is a matter of working out the final details.
Under MLS rules, the club receives two-thirds of the transfer fee, with the other third going to the league.
Toronto manager Mo Johnston would not comment on Edu's situation yesterday, but did have some things to say about Smith, describing him as "quick" and a player that head coach John Carver knows and likes.
Johnston said American-born Smith, 21, will join the team immediately.
"Quite a few teams were after him," Johnston said.
In order to land Smith, Toronto made a deal with the New England Revolution, sending them allocation money and then swapping places with them in the allocation rankings, going from 13th to second to acquire Smith.
"We were lucky to beat out four other teams to get his signature," Johnston said. "He's got the pace of [Toronto defender] Marvell Wynne and can get by players.
"We're very thrilled to have him. He adds youth, and we're looking forward to working with him."
Smith has been with Bolton Wanderers Academy in England.
He made his debut with the team in Bolton's Carling Cup defeat at Charlton Athletic in October of 2006, when he came on as a second-half substitute.
He made his Premier League debut against Manchester United on Oct. 28, 2006, in the 85th minute as a substitute.
Wynne, another Toronto player on the U.S. Olympic team, also has returned from Beijing and trained with the Toronto team at BMO Field yesterday.
Wynne said he intends to play in tomorrow's game against the New York Red Bulls in East Rutherford, N.J.
