By The Canadian Press

AFC Toronto parts ways with five players in end-of-season roster announcement

Dec 15, 2025 | 9:40 AM

TORONTO — AFC Toronto has parted ways with five players, three of whom were sidelined with injury during the Northern Super League’s inaugural season.

Canadians Mya Jones, Leah Pais and Sonia Walk did not see action with Toronto due to injury. South Korean defender Hong Hye-ji and Japanese midfielder Aoi Kizaki, the club’s first two international signings, are also not returning.

Hong and Kizaki left in search of more playing time.

“Players are never satisfied and happy when they’re not playing,” said Toronto sporting director Billy Wilson. “I think both Hey-ji and Aoi, they weren’t featuring as much as they would like. And at that point, there’s always a conversation to be had.”

Hong appeared in six matches, all starts, totalling 495 minutes during AFC Toronto’s inaugural season. The South Korean international defender arrived from Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels WFC.

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Wilson said Hong, wanting to add to her 40 international caps, plans to return home “to reintegrate herself into the Korean football landscape.”

“And we weren’t going to stand in her way,” he added.

Kizaki made 15 appearances, including four starts, with one goal and two assists over 448 minutes. She played more than 100 matches in Japan’s Women’s Empowerment (WE) League before joining Toronto.

“Aoi just struggled to really get minutes in our midfield and we didn’t really see that changing, so it didn’t make sense to continue,” said Wilson

Veteran Canadian forward Jade Kovacevic announced her retirement last week.

Toronto topped the NSL regular-season standings at 16-6-3, downing the Montreal Roses in semifinal playoff action before falling 2-1 to the Vancouver Rise in the Nov. 15 championship game at BMO Field.

The Calgary-born Jones, who joined Toronto on loan from the NWSL’s San Diego Wave, was sidelined for the duration of the 2025 season due to a problematic foot injury that dates back to October 2024. After Jones was cleared to return earlier this year, she spent several months training with Toronto but eventually had to stop due to the pain.

“A massive loss, if we’re honest … She would have been a huge asset to us this year,” said Wilson.

Jones’ contract with San Diego expires at the end of the year.

“I know she’s hungry to still play,” said Wilson.

Forward Pais and defender Walk were placed on the season-ending injury list in early June after undergoing knee surgery.

Pais underwent surgery to repair a long-term knee issue while Walk was diagnosed a meniscus injury after completing rehabilitation from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Pais, a native of Mississauga, Ont., joined Toronto from Iceland’s Thróttur Reykjavík FC. Walk, a Toronto native, arrived from Boston College.

Walk, who has survived a string of injuries, may opt to focus on her post-graduate studies.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 15, 2025.

Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press