By The Canadian Press

Toronto FC happy to land Pittsburgh defender Jackson Gilman in MLS SuperDraft

Dec 18, 2025 | 4:26 PM

TORONTO — Toronto FC had just one pick in Thursday’s MLS SuperDraft but left happy after taking Pitt defender Jackson Gilman in the second round.

Gilman played 75 games over his four seasons at Pittsburgh, starting 74, with two goals and seven assists. The five-foot-11, 174-pound senior from Schwenksville, Pa., captained the Panthers for three seasons.

“There’s a lot to like, to be honest,” said Toronto technical director Sean Rubio. “A four-year starter at a top program. Played as a freshman on a team that went to the (NCAA) College Cup final four as a starter. To be a captain, starting in your sophomore season, for that big of a school, there’s something to be said about that.

“The soccer IQ for me is off the charts,” he added. “Just a really smart footballer, makes really good decisions. He’s played everywhere across the backline. I think he could even potentially play in midfield, although he has not done that any time recently.”

Rubio said time will tell what position Gilman is best suited for. He mostly played centre back at Pitt.

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“Maybe (he’s) not the traditional frame of a modern centre back in some way but he was able to hold his own in the toughest conference in college soccer,” Rubio said. “I think he’s a player that can pitch in for us in a few different positions.”

Toronto is expected to land immediate help at centre back, with U.S. international Walker Zimmerman reportedly on the verge of joining as a free agent.

Gilman, 21, was named to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) All-Freshman Team in 2022 and made the All-ACC Third Team in both 2023 and 2024.

Gilman was with the Philadelphia Union Academy from 2016 to 2022 and played with the Philadelphia Union II in 2021 and ’22.

TFC has history with Pitt, having taken midfielder Michael Sullivan in the second round (39th overall) in last year’s draft. The two played together with Sullivan providing a positive reference.

Toronto sent its first-round pick to Colorado in January in order to add Neil Emblen and Jase Kim to Robin Fraser’s coaching staff. Its third-round pick went to Dallas via Montreal, which acquired the pick in exchange for allowing TFC to sign Malik Henry to a first-team deal. Montreal had drafted Henry in the second round (39th overall) of the 2024 draft.

Gilman went 36th overall, one pick after the Los Angeles Galaxy took 22-year-old Stanford defender Palmer Bank.

Toronto selected Bank’s twin brother, Fletcher Bank, in the third round (85th overall) in the 2024 draft.

Fletcher, a midfielder returned, to Stanford. Toronto has until the end of the year to sign him — after that, any MLS team can put him on their Discovery List.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 18, 2025.

Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press