Urruti signed by TFC, not quite sealed and delivered

It’s hard to imagine a signing of any athlete in MLS history which has more of a “whew, it’s finally done” feel than Toronto’s FC’s announcement that Argentine forward Maximiliano Urruti is finally a Red.

He isn’t sealed and delivered, yet. That comes with the arrival of his International Transfer Certificate.

TFC announced the signing Friday.

“We are thrilled to finally get this deal concluded for Maximiliano Urruti. He is a player that we have been aware of for nearly two years and we have scouted him extensively in person,” said Toronto FC President and General Manager Kevin Payne in a release issued by the club. “We think he’s really going to help our team and he is going to be an exciting player for our league so we couldn’t be happier about this outcome.”

Of course, Payne hasn’t actually been with TFC for two years. But his statement gives you an idea of how drawn-out the courting of Urruti has been. He was linked to TFC before the start of the 2013 regular season, but a proposed loan deal with his club, Newell’s Old Boys, fell apart. Urruti then left Newell’s, which angered the Argentine club. NOB then publicly demanded that its striker return to the fold. The Argentine media reported Urruti was in Toronto (when he wasn’t). And, when he finally showed up at TFC’s training sessions this week, a deal still wasn’t done, even though Newell’s Old Boys announced that it had finally come to a verbal agreement with MLS on the Urruti move.

Whew.

Urruti scored 14 times in 56 league and Copa Libertadores matches for NOB.

TFC has not yet announced if Urruti is a Designated Player or not. As well, the Aug. 8 transfer deadline has passed. After that date, MLS and NASL teams can only sign free agents. As of Aug. 8, Newell’s Old Boys maintained that Urruti was still under contract to that club. NOB’s statement that it has come to a verbal agreement with MLS over the Urruti move was issued on Aug. 13, five days after the MLS deadline.

But, according to a statement from MLS, Newell’s had already agreed to set Urruti free before Aug. 8.

“Urruti reached a settlement with his club prior to the Aug. 8 deadline, which allowed Toronto to sign him. He is eligible to play pending the receipt of his ITC,” stated MLS.