TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Trade
UPDATE (March 17):
- MIN receive: Kemar Lawrence
- TOR receive: College protected period priority rights to Sean O’Hearn/$50K conditional GAM.
Minnesota United FC and Toronto FC have officially completed a trade that sends left back Kemar Lawrence to the Loons, the clubs announced Thursday.
In exchange for Lawrence, Toronto FC will receive the college protected period priority rights to 2021 MLS SuperDraft pick Sean O’Hearn and a conditional $50,000 in General Allocation Money in either 2022 or 2023 if certain performance metrics are met.
“Kemar is a player we’ve been looking at for three to four years," Minnesota head coach Adrian Heath said in a release. "He’s someone who is highly experienced and knows the league inside out. He’s just come back from a successful spell at Anderlecht, playing in the biggest club in Belgium, where he did so well they wanted to keep him. [We are] delighted to bring him in."
The move comes after news that Minnesota left back Chase Gasper has voluntarily entered MLS’ Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health (“SABH”) Program for personal reasons. Lawrence, 29, gives the club an experienced option at the position, with 143 MLS appearances for his career.
ORIGINAL (March 16) - Minnesota United FC are finalizing a trade to acquire Jamaican international left back Kemar Lawrence from Toronto FC, sources tell MLSsoccer.com.
Lawrence had not been with Toronto during preseason as both sides looked to sort a new destination for the fullback.
Lawrence, 29, originally came to MLS in 2015 with the New York Red Bulls and established himself as one of the league’s best left backs during his time at the club from 2015-19, winning two Supporters’ Shields and placing fifth in 2018 MLS Defender of the Year voting.
Minnesota currently have Chase Gasper as their key option at the position. Center back Bakaye Dibassy filled in at left back during the first two weeks of the Loons' 2022 campaign with Gasper out injured, with DJ Taylor deputizing there in Sunday's 1-0 win at RBNY.
This offseason, TFC also bid farewell to fullbacks Richie Laryea (transfer to Nottingham Forest), Auro (loan to Santos) and Justin Morrow (retirement) as their near-complete roster overhaul unfolds under Bob Bradley.
Lawrence left RBNY for Europe in January 2020, signing with RSC Anderlecht just before the pandemic shut down the world. He made 17 appearances with the Belgian club.
The dynamic defender has 71 caps with Jamaica, scoring three times for the Reggae Boyz. For his MLS career, Lawrence has six goals and 10 assists across 143 regular-season appearances.
