Mehdi Essoussi Explained

Mehdi Essoussi
Birth Date:28 February 2001
Birth Place:Tunis, Tunisia
Height:6 ft 1 in
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:Alliance United FC
Clubnumber:8
Youthclubs1:Nepean Hotspurs SC
Youthyears2:2011
Youthclubs2:Ottawa Fury Academy
Youthyears3:2010–2016
Youthclubs3:Ottawa South United
Youthyears4:2017–2021
Youthclubs4:Toronto FC
Collegeyears1:2023–
College1:Toronto Varsity Blues
Collegecaps1:1
Collegegoals1:0
Years1:2018
Caps1:13
Goals1:1
Years2:2019–2022
Caps2:24
Goals2:0
Years3:2022
Clubs3:Toronto FC (loan)
Caps3:0
Goals3:0
Years4:2023–
Caps4:12
Goals4:0
Club-Update:August 19, 2023

Mehdi Essoussi (born 28 February 2001) is a Tunisian footballer who plays as a midfielder with Alliance United FC in League1 Ontario.

Early life

Essoussi was born in Tunis, Tunisia, before moving to Montreal, Canada, when he was one, followed by a move to Ottawa at age two. He began playing youth soccer at age four with the Nepean Hotspurs SC, before moving on to Ottawa South United[1] and spending some time in the Ottawa Fury Academy.[2] He then moved on to join the Toronto FC Academy. He also played with the Team Ontario provincial team and attended a Canada national team identification camp.[3]

University career

In 2023, he began attending the University of Toronto, playing for the men's soccer team.[4]

Club career

In 2018, he began playing for Toronto FC III in the semi-professional League1 Ontario. He scored his first goal on 12 August against Sigma FC.[5] He was named a 2nd team all-star at the end of the season.[6]

On 27 September 2018, he signed his first professional contract with Toronto FC II to join them for the 2019 season.[7] [8] He made his debut on June 19 against the Lansing Ignite.[9] On 21 May 2022, he signed a short-term loan with the first team Toronto FC.[10]

In 2023, he played with Alliance United FC in League1 Ontario.[11]

International career

Eligible to represent both his native Tunisia and Canada, he was called up to the Canadian under-15 national team camp in 2016.[12]

Career statistics

ClubSeasonLeaguePlayoffsDomestic CupLeague CupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Toronto FC III2018[13] League1 Ontario13120151
Toronto FC II2019USL League One6060
2021150150
2022MLS Next Pro300030
Total24000000000240
Toronto FC (loan)2022Major League Soccer000000
Alliance United FC2023League1 Ontario120120
Career total49100002000511

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Force Academy Alumni: National Teams and Professional Players. Ottawa South United.
  2. Web site: Ottawa Fury 2011 Media Guide. Ottawa Fury SC.
  3. Web site: High performance: Meet two elite student athletes at U of T Engineering. University of Toronto. Marit. Mitchell. October 1, 2018.
  4. Web site: Mehdi Essoussi Varsity Blues profile. Toronto Varsity Blues.
  5. Web site: Sigma Goes Top Of League After Beating TFC III 2-1. August 13, 2018. League1 Ontario.
  6. Web site: Academy players honoured with League1 Ontario Awards. November 27, 2018. Adam. Krueger. Toronto FC.
  7. Web site: Toronto FC II sign three Academy players for 2019 season. September 27, 2018. Toronto FC.
  8. Web site: TFC II set to kickoff USL League One season. James. Grossi. April 4, 2019. Waking the Red.
  9. Web site: TFC II in D3: Lansing’s Haitian Sensation Ends Young Reds’ Unbeaten Run. Gwyn. Richards. Northern Starting XI. June 20, 2019.
  10. Web site: Toronto FC sign Mehdi Essoussi to a short-term agreement. May 21, 2022. Toronto FC.
  11. Web site: Mehdi Essoussi 2023 L1O Stats. League1 Ontario.
  12. Web site: U-15 Men's Team [2016-03]]. Canadian Soccer Association.
  13. Web site: 2018 Statistics . 23 September 2018 . League 1 Ontario.