NSL AFC Toronto

AFC Toronto Signs Former Canadian Youth National Team Player Ashley Cathro

Published on February 3, 2025 under Northern Super League (NSL)
AFC Toronto News Release


Toronto, ON - AFC Toronto is thrilled to announce Canadian defender Ashley Cathro as its latest player signing ahead of the 2025 Northern Super League season. The 25-year-old, who spent the last six years at the University of Illinois, is another example of AFC Toronto's commitment to helping Canadians kickstart their professional careers through new pathways.

Originally from Victoria, B.C., Cathro moved to Vancouver during high school to participate in the Vancouver Whitecaps Girls Elite REX program on a full-time basis. It was here where she developed her skills en route to representing Canada Soccer's Women's National Team at the U-17 and U-20 level, including the U-17 FIFA Women's World Cup. Cathro later earned to two invitations to training camps with the senior national team.

For five seasons, Cathro was an integral part of the women's soccer program at the University of Illinois excelling as a left full-back or playing on the left side of a back three. Her reliability led to her breaking the record for the most Big Ten starts (48) in program history. Cathro later played for Racing Louisville in the USL W League, the United States' premier pre-professional women's soccer circuit. Now with AFC Toronto, she returns to Canada to be a part of women's sport history.

"My soccer career was slightly on hold so I was pursuing my PhD at the University of Illinois, but when this opportunity presented itself, it was one I couldn't turn down. A professional women's soccer league in Canada was always in the talks for a long time coming, but seeing it come to fruition is extremely exciting," said Ashley Cathro on signing with the club.

"AFC Toronto hands me an opportunity to be part of the city's rich sport history and help push women's soccer forward in Canada. It's certainly a project I wanted to be a part of and I can't wait to get started. I want to show the next generation that there is a pathway in Canada now."

"Ashley is someone who had a fantastic collegiate career at Illinois and is someone who was highly regarded by the Canada Soccer program," added AFC Toronto Sporting Director, Billy Wilson.

"Left-sided defenders are notoriously difficult to find, and as a team who wants to be in possession and build from the back, we believe Ashley will provide us with natural balance. She developed a great foundation with the Whitecaps and we were able to tap into some people we trust who worked with her at youth national team level. We know we are getting a player with a lot of upside and are excited to bring someone with her pedigree to the club."

Alongside the U-17 FIFA Women's World Cup, Cathro represented Canada in the U-17 Concacaf Championships, CFA International Women's Youth Football Tournament and U-20 Concacaf Championships alongside other competitions.

AFC Toronto will continue to announce additional player signings in the near future.

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