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Former Canada under-20 captain Nikayla Small signs with NSL’s AFC Toronto
Former Canada under-20 captain Nikayla Small has signed with AFC Toronto, staying close to home in the new Northern Super League.
The 21-year-old midfielder from Pickering, Ont., arrives from Wake Forest University, where she appeared in 60 games, including 53 starts, with four goals and 15 assists. However an ankle injury sidelined her at the 2024 NCAA women’s soccer tournament, where the Demon Deacons lost 1-0 to North Carolina in the championship game.
Small played for Pickering Soccer Club before joining the National Development Centre (NDC) Ontario. She has represented Canada at the under-15, U-17 and U-20 levels. While former Canada coach Bev Priestman called her into camp twice in late 2021, she has yet to earn a senior cap.
“Nikayla is a player we are very familiar with having watched her develop while playing with the National Development Centre and youth national teams,” AFC Toronto sporting director Billy Wilson said in a statement. “Not only is she an outstanding talent who will offer us something different in central areas, she is a quality person who aligns with our values.”