Toronto FC won a weighted lottery Thursday for 21-year-old defender Gale Agbossoumonde.

Five other teams entered the lottery – Dallas, Houston, Seattle, LA and San Jose – with Toronto having by far the best odds.

Agbossoumonde, who was born in Togo but moved to New York as a child, has long been considered a top American prospect but has struggled to get his career headed in the right direction. He earned his first and so far only cap for the U.S. national team in 2010.

In 2009, he reportedly rejected offers from MLS and several La Liga teams. He decided to sign with Traffic Sports, a marketing company that owned his rights.

From 2010 until earlier this year, he bounced around to several teams in Europe before deciding to return to the United States. However, he again rejected an offer from MLS and surprisingly decided to sign with the Carolina RailHawks of the NASL.

Agbossoumonde will likely compete for starting time in the suddenly crowded Toronto FC defense. If he impresses the coaching staff, he could partner with newly acquired veteran Danny Califf in the center of defense.

Galaxy Sign Homegrown Player and GA Deals Signed
The LA Galaxy confirmed Thursday the signing of 21-year-old forward Gyasi Zardes as a Homegrown player.

Zardes played three years for CSU Bakersfield and scored 38 goals. He joins Oscar Sorto to become the second Homegrown player signed since the end of the 2012 season.

Soccer By Ives reported that Louisville defender Andrew Farrell, Furman defender Walker Zimmerman, VCU forward J.J. Johnson and youth striker Kekuta Manneh of Texas have signed Generation adidas deals. Farrell is projected by many to go first in the SuperDraft, and with Toronto FC having the No. 1 and No. 3 pick and acquiring Agbossoumonde, they may try to trade the top spot.

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