Toronto-born midfielder Steffen Yeates is the newest addition to York United’s roster, signing a contract through 2026 with an option for the 2027 season.
Yeates, 25, spent the past two seasons at fellow Canadian Premier League (CPL) side Pacific FC, totalling 64 appearances for the Tridents.
Before that, he spent time in the Toronto FC system, where he came up through the academy but was unable to break into the first team.
Yeates says he’s excited to be back playing in Toronto.
“Being back home and playing in a home environment is always a benefit and always brings that extra motivation,” he said.
“It feels amazing to represent the home team, especially when you can feel the direction of the club and the ambition they have to further themselves after last year and having made history in so many areas,” Yeates said.
Yeates is just the latest addition to a York side coming off its best-ever CPL finish in 2024.
The club has retained players such as Oswaldo Leon, Elijah Adekugbe, Juan Cordova, Max Ferrari and young star Shola Jimoh while adding new pieces including Adonijah Reid, Gaby Bitar and former Humber Hawk Riley Ferrazzo.
However, there will still be a good amount of turnover on the roster and in the coaching staff.
York’s top scorer in 2024 Brian Wright has signed for rival Forge FC, while star midfielder Mo Babouli was also spotted training with the Hamilton-based outfit in preseason.
Head coach Benjamin Mora, who was credited in large part with turning United’s 2024 season around after joining in June, has left the club to manage Querétaro in Mexico.
In his place steps Mauro Eustaquio, the older brother of Canadian Men’s National Team midfielder Stephen Eustaquio, who was promoted from the assistant coach role which he’d held at York since 2022.
Eustaquio has become the fourth permanent head coach in club history, following Mora, Martin Nash and Jim Brennan.
“I’m a person who believes strongly in dedication and focus and that discipline has always been a large part of who I am,” he said. “We can achieve great things together and I’m excited for what’s ahead.”
The 31-year-old Eustaquio becomes the youngest-ever permanent manager of a top-level professional football club in North America, according to the press release from York.
York supporter Namu Yoon is content with the new signings and excited about the possibility of even more to come before the season kicks off.
“We should have lots of space to work under the cap due to the departure of our key attackers, so we're excited to see what signing magic the [York United] front office can pull off,” he said.
However, Yoon said he believes York should be focusing on having an even better season than last year and push to consistently challenge perennial contenders Forge for titles.
“We need to be fighting for titles, not just for playoff spots. We need to be making continental competitions,” he said. “The club is over five years old, it's time to show some mettle.”
