Canadian fans who have long waited for Ali Gerba to join Toronto FC will have to wait a few weeks more before they can see the national star dress for their team. On Tuesday TFC announced the signing of the 27-year-old striker from England's Milton Keynes Dons, but because the MLS transfer window doesn't open until July 15, Gerba cannot play for the club until its July 18 game against the Houston Dynamo.

Gerba, who brings a wealth of international playing experience with him, is already settling in on the practice field. "When the ball goes into him, he shields it very well and he brings others into the game," TFC coach Chris Cummins said. "He's a player we've been looking at for a while now. He's trained with the lads now and mixed in nicely. He's going to bring a lot of athleticism to the team, a lot of hunger, a lot of desire."

Born in Cameroon in 1981, Gerba relocated to Montreal in his childhood and began his pro career with the USL's Montreal Impact in 2000. After a brief stint with the Miami Fusion, Gerba went on to play in Germany, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and, perhaps most notably, Toronto. As a member of the former Toronto Lynx of the USL, Gerba was the club's second-highest all-time scorer, netting 24 goals in 57 appearances. He is glad to be back in Canada. "I'm back home so the feeling is great, the guys are great and I've heard the fans are pretty good so I'm coming here to enjoy my time here," Gerba said. "It's a little bit frustrating since I would've liked to have come right away, but the league is what it is so I've just got to be patient and wait for my time to come."

 

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