Toronto FC sign Canadian international Gerba
Last Updated: Tuesday, June 23, 2009 | 11:36 AM ET
CBC Sports
Ali Gerba, left, will reunite with Canadian teammate Dwayne De Rosario on Toronto FC. (Graham Hughes/Canadian Press)Toronto FC have signed Canadian international Ali Gerba, the MLS team announced Tuesday.
The 27-year-old forward was recently released from English League One side Milton Keynes Dons, with whom he scored 10 goals in 24 games.
Toronto FC acquired his MLS rights as part of a trade earlier this month that brought Nick Garcia over from the San Jose Earthquakes.
Gerba will be available to suit up for Toronto FC on July 15, when the MLS transfer window opens.
"We are very happy to get Ali in here and under contract," said Toronto general manager Mo Johnston. "Ali is a very strong player, he's quick, he's got an eye for the goal and he's someone that will help us down the stretch.
"We've tried to get him in here before, and he's shown a real desire to play here, so we're looking forward to getting him on the pitch with the rest of the squad."
Gerba, who was born in Cameroon and later moved to Montreal, was named Monday to Canada's 23-player roster for the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup, which runs through next month across the United States.
In 23 appearances with the national team, he has 11 goals.
Gerba played for the Toronto Lynx of the USL in 2002-03 and again in 2004-05, leaving as the second most prolific scorer in club history with 24 goals. He has also spent time with the USL's Montreal Impact.
