Big season and opportunity ahead for TFC's Luka Gavran
After more than two seasons as Sean Johnson's understudy, Gavran will finally get the chance to be Toronto FC's No. 1 goalkeeper.
Luka Gavran has had to patiently bide his time throughout his soccer career.
As a freshman, he redshirted with St. John’s University during the 2018 NCAA season before making his debut for the Red Storm the following year. It was only after splitting time in net during his first two seasons that he became the school’s full-time starter during his junior year in 2021.
Selected in the second round (31st overall) of the 2022 MLS SuperDraft by Toronto FC, Gavran ended up signing with TFC 2 that same year, rather than immediately joining the senior team. An MLS deal didn’t come his way until 2023, and he then spent the next two and half seasons backing up Sean Johnson.
Now the waiting is over. Johnson is gone, having signed as a free agent with D.C. United after his 2026 option was declined by TFC and being unable to come to terms with the club on a new contract in the off-season. With Johnson out of the picture, Gavran, a 25-year-old from Hamilton, Ont., is finally poised to become Toronto’s starting goalkeeper for the 2026 MLS campaign.
