Toronto FC II announced that the club has signed forward Stefan Karajovanovic and defender Klaidi Cela to MLS NEXT Pro contracts. The pair will be added to the club’s roster pending league and federation approval.
“Stefan is a technical player that generates a lot of scoring opportunities for himself and others from wide areas,” said Toronto FC II Head Coach Gianni Cimini. “He is aggressive in his mentality to attack the goal and this is something that we look for from players in this position. Klaidi will add experience to our back line and will bring leadership and an ability to protect our box with both aerial and ground duels.”
Karajovanovic, 22, born in Gatineau, Quebec, was originally selected seventh overall by HFX Wanderers FC of the Canadian Premier League (CPL) in the 2021 CPL–U Sports Draft. With the Wanderers, he registered one goal and two assists in 28 appearances in 2021. Karajovanovic previously spent time with Ottawa South United (2020), A.S. Blainville (2019), FC Gatineau (2017-2018) and Ottawa Fury Academy (2016) in the Première Ligue de soccer du Québec (PLSQ), registering 29 goals in a combined 40 appearances. He also played college soccer at Carleton University from 2017 to 2019, where he scored 35 goals in 37 games for the Ravens. In 2017, he was named an Ontario University Athletics (OUA) First-Team All-Star in his rookie season.
Cela, 22, most recently played for Forge FC of the Canadian Premier League, where he registered one goal and one assist in 18 appearances across three seasons (2019-2021). A native of Mississauga, Ontario, Cela also spent time with Sigma FC of League1 Ontario (2018, 2021) and G.D. Gafanha of Campeonato de Portugal (2016-2018). Prior to playing in Europe, he joined the Toronto FC Academy in October 2012 and played for Toronto FC II in the 2015 USL Championship regular season. He also appeared for Toronto FC III in League1 Ontario and Premier Development League action in 2016. Internationally, Cela participated in Canada’s U-15 (2013-2014) and U-18 (2015-2016) national team development camps.
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TRANSACTION:* Toronto FC II sign forward Stefan Karajovanovic and defender Klaidi Cela to MLS NEXT Pro contracts.
STEFAN KARAJOVANOVIC
Position: Forward
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 163 lbs.
Birthdate: April 16, 1999 (Age – 22)
Hometown: Gatineau, Quebec
Nationality: Canadian
KLAIDI CELA
Last Club: HFX Wanderers FC
Position: Defender
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 170 lbs.
Birthdate: July 16, 1999 (Age – 22)
Hometown: Mississauga, Ontario
Nationality: Canadian
Last Club: Forge FC
