Andre De Grasse invests in new Canadian women’s soccer league
The 200m Olympic champion has purchased a stake in AFC Toronto City, one of eight teams in the new Canadian pro soccer league, Project Eight
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Kevin Morris
Six-time Olympic sprint medallist Andre De Grasse is investing in the future of women’s sports in Canada. The 29-year-old has reportedly bought a stake in team AFC Toronto City, one of eight teams in the new Canadian pro soccer league, Project Eight.
Project Eight is a new Canadian women’s professional soccer league, founded by former Canadian international player Diana Matheson and scheduled to kick off in spring 2025.
To this point, three of the eight franchises for the league have been announced. The franchise fee for the new league is $1 million, with an estimated $8 million to $10 million in total invested capital needed over the first five seasons, in addition to necessary spending on infrastructure.
De Grasse, a father of two, says he’s always been a fan of women’s soccer and hopes this opportunity can turn into “something big.”
“Bringing a women’s soccer league and having a franchise in Toronto is a pretty cool thing to have,” De Grasse told The Canadian Press. “I hope that I can play a big part in it.”
The details of De Grasse’s investment or stake have not been announced, but he is no stranger to backing startup ventures through his recently formed ADG Ignite Ventures.
De Grasse played soccer in Scarborough in his youth before transitioning to playing basketball year-round. He came to sprinting in his final years of high school after being spotted by former Canadian Olympic sprinter Tony Sharpe at the York Region H.S. Championships.
“We are thrilled that Andre will be investing in Toronto’s women’s professional team,” Matheson told The Canadian Press. “Andre is joining an investment group in Toronto that, as he does, understands the incredible impact that sport has on individuals and communities, as well as the significant growth potential of women’s professional sport in Canada.”
AFC Toronto City is one of three teams in the upcoming Project Eight league, joining the Vancouver (women’s) Whitecaps and Calgary Foothills.
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