Richie Laryea
Canadian soccer player (born 1995)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Richmond Mamah Laryea (/ləˈreɪjə/ La-RAY-a;[4] Ga: /ˈlɑːji/ LAH-yee;[4] born January 7, 1995) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a right-back or midfielder for Major League Soccer club Toronto FC and the Canada national team.
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Laryea with Canada in 2026 | |||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Richmond Mamah Laryea[1] | ||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | January 7, 1995 | ||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | ||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[2] | ||||||||||||||||
| Position | Defender | ||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||
Current team | Toronto FC | ||||||||||||||||
| Number | 22 | ||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||
| 2004–2008 | Club Uruguay[3] | ||||||||||||||||
| 2008–2014 | Sigma FC | ||||||||||||||||
| College career | |||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||
| 2014–2015 | Akron Zips | 42 | (12) | ||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||
| 2015 | Sigma FC | 9 | (5) | ||||||||||||||
| 2016–2018 | Orlando City SC | 21 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2016–2017 | → Orlando City B (loan) | 35 | (3) | ||||||||||||||
| 2019–2021 | Toronto FC | 67 | (8) | ||||||||||||||
| 2022–2024 | Nottingham Forest | 5 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2022–2023 | → Toronto FC (loan) | 28 | (2) | ||||||||||||||
| 2023 | → Vancouver Whitecaps FC (loan) | 12 | (1) | ||||||||||||||
| 2024– | Toronto FC | 45 | (4) | ||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||
| 2016 | Canada U23 | 2 | (1) | ||||||||||||||
| 2019– | Canada | 80 | (1) | ||||||||||||||
| 2026 | Canada B | 1 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
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* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of August 22, 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of July 4, 2026 | |||||||||||||||||
College career
Prior to his college career, Laryea played for Sigma FC Academy and Dante Alighieri Academy in Toronto.[5] Laryea played college soccer at the University of Akron for two seasons, reaching the College Cup semi-finals in 2015.[6]
Laryea was named to the All-Mid-American Conference Second Team in 2014,[7] and was named to the All-Mid-American Conference First Team in 2015.[8] Following his sophomore season, Laryea signed a contract with Generation Adidas.[9]
Club career
Sigma FC
Laryea played for League1 Ontario club Sigma FC in 2015, where he was named a League All-Star.[10]
Orlando City
Laryea was drafted in the first round (seventh overall) of the 2016 MLS SuperDraft by Orlando City.[11][12] He was loaned to Orlando City B in March 2016.[13]
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After spending the first half of his second season once again on loan to OCB playing as both an attacking and defensive midfielder,[14] Laryea made his MLS debut on June 25, 2017, subbing on for Kaká in a 4–0 defeat to Chicago Fire.[15] Laryea got his first MLS assist on September 27, 2017, assisting on Yoshimar Yotún's goal against New England Revolution.[16] He made his first career MLS start on the final day of the season away to Philadelphia Union.[17]
On November 27, 2018, the club announced they had declined his contract option.[18]
Toronto FC
On March 21, 2019, Laryea signed for MLS side Toronto FC.[19] Laryea scored his first goal for Toronto on May 26, 2019, in a 2–1 home defeat to the San Jose Earthquakes,[20] was also his first MLS goal.[21] Laryea scored his first playoff goal, against DC United, and then defeated Atlanta United FC to win the Eastern Conference (MLS) playoffs. Laryea and Toronto FC then lost to Seattle Sounders FC in the 2019 MLS Cup final. Laryea would have his option for the 2020 season exercised by Toronto, keeping him with the club for 2020.[22]
On September 27, 2020, Laryea scored a solo goal and provided two assists in the second half of Toronto's 3–1 win against the league-leading Columbus Crew.[23] Laryea was named the MLS Player of the Week as a result of his performance.[24]
Nottingham Forest
On January 8, 2022, EFL Championship club Nottingham Forest signed Laryea on a transfer from Toronto FC, signing a three-and-a-half-year contract.[25] After featuring only sparingly in Forest's matchday squads during his first few months, Laryea made his debut on April 18 against West Bromwich Albion, as a second-half substitute for Djed Spence in an eventual 4–0 victory.[26]
Loans to Toronto and Vancouver
In August 2022, he returned on loan to Toronto FC until the end of June 2023.[27] To complete the transaction, Toronto sent $225,000 in General Allocation Money to FC Dallas and $125,000 in General Allocation Money to FC Cincinnati to acquire the top spot in the MLS Allocation Order.[28]
On August 2, 2023, Laryea was loaned to Canadian MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps FC.[29] In January 2024, it was confirmed that Laryea's move would not be made permanent, and that his time with the club had ended.[30]
Reflecting on his spell with Nottingham Forest, Laryea later described it as “a lot of pressure, a lot of stress”, saying it taught him to focus on small details, match “margins”, and block out outside noise.[31]
Return to Toronto
In February 2024, he returned to Toronto FC on a permanent transfer, signing a contract through 2026 with an option for 2027.[32]
International career
In May 2016, Laryea was called to Canada's U23 national team for a pair of friendlies against Guyana and Grenada.[33] Laryea scored in the opening match against Guyana.[34]
Laryea received his first call up to the senior team on August 26, 2019, for two CONCACAF Nations League matches against Cuba.[35] He made his debut in the first match on September 7, 2019.[36]
On March 25, 2021, Laryea scored his first goal for Canada in a 5–1 win over Bermuda in the team's first 2022 World Cup qualifying match.[37]
In June 2021, Laryea was named to Canada's 60-man preliminary squad for the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[38] On July 1, he was named to the final 23-man squad.[39] Canada went on to reach the semi-finals of the tournament, where they were defeated 2–1 by Mexico.[40]
In November 2022, Laryea was called up to the squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.[41] Reflecting on Canada’s group-stage exit at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Laryea said the tournament taught the squad that international football is “a game of margins”, emphasizing the importance of taking chances and limiting opponents’ threats against elite opposition.[42]
In June 2023, Laryea was named to Canada's final squad for the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League Finals,[43][44] with Canada reaching the final, only to suffer a 2–0 defeat against United States.[45] On June 19 Laryea was named to the 23-man squad for the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[46]
In June 2024, Laryea was called-up to the Canadian squad for the 2024 Copa América,[47] where the team achieved a fourth-place finish, losing 4–3 to Uruguay on penalties in the third-place playoff following a 2–2 draw.[48]
On May 29, 2026, Laryea was selected in the 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[49]
Style of play
Laryea has described his game as built on work rate and “max effort”, saying that on the teams he played for growing up, bringing maximum effort in training and matches was considered the bare minimum expected of him and that this standard has carried through his professional career.[50] In a 2026 interview, he said that Canada's men's team press hard, force turnovers and play at full speed, and that this playing style “coincides pretty nicely” with how he likes to play.[51] Reflecting on Canada’s 2022 World Cup campaign, Laryea described matches at that level as “a game of margins”, noting that against top-ranked national teams, small details, taking chances and “put[ting] out fires” defensively can determine results.[52] He also said that experiences in England taught him to cope with pressure, focusing on what he knows he can do and not making major occasions “bigger than what they actually are”.[53]
Canadian sports media has highlighted Laryea as a quick, physical, and versatile full-back or wing-back who can play on either flank, in midfield and occasionally at centre-back, turning defence into attack with his ball-carrying and forward runs.[54][55] Toronto FC head coach Robin Fraser has praised his “incredible intensity” and ability to get into dangerous positions and create penalties, calling Laryea “a world-class international defender”.[56] Laryea is also known for his use of physical duels and on-field banter to get under opponents’ skin and provide the “edge” that teams look for at the international level.[57][58][59]
Personal life
Laryea is of Ghanaian descent.[60] His younger brother, Reggie Laryea, plays soccer for semi-professional team Vaughan Azzurri.[61]
In 2026, Laryea appeared on the cover of Canadian soccer magazine DARBY’s sixth issue, HOME, in a feature that discussed his understanding of home and his leadership role with Canada ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on home soil.[62]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played August 22, 2026[63]
| Club | Season | League | Playoffs | National cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Sigma FC | 2015 | League1 Ontario | 9 | 5 | — | — | — | 3[a] | 2 | 12 | 7 | |||
| Orlando City B | 2016 | USL | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | — | — | 23 | 0 | |||
| 2017 | 12 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 12 | 3 | ||||||
| Total | 35 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 35 | 3 | |||||
| Orlando City SC | 2017 | MLS | 12 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | 12 | 0 | |||
| 2018 | 9 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | 9 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 21 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | 21 | 0 | |||||
| Toronto FC | 2019 | MLS | 20 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 28 | 2 | ||
| 2020 | 20[b] | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1[c] | 0 | 22 | 4 | ||||
| 2021 | 27 | 3 | — | 3 | 0 | 3[d] | 0 | — | 33 | 3 | ||||
| Total | 67 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 83 | 9 | ||
| Nottingham Forest | 2021–22 | Championship | 5 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
| Toronto FC (loan) | 2022 | MLS | 10 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | 10 | 0 | |||
| 2023 | 18 | 2 | — | 1 | 0 | — | — | 19 | 2 | |||||
| Total | 28 | 2 | — | 1 | 0 | — | — | 29 | 2 | |||||
| Vancouver Whitecaps FC (loan) | 2023 | MLS | 12 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 14 | 1 | ||
| Toronto FC | 2024 | MLS | 12 | 1 | — | 2 | 0 | — | 3[e] | 0 | 17 | 1 | ||
| 2025 | 17 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | 17 | 1 | |||||
| 2026 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 16 | 2 | ||||
| Total | 45 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | 50 | 4 | |||
| Career total | 222 | 23 | 7 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 250 | 26 | ||
- Appearances in League1 Ontario League Cup
- Includes two appearances and one goal in MLS is Back Tournament group stage
- Appearance in MLS is Back Tournament knockout stage
- Appearances in CONCACAF Champions League
- Appearances in Leagues Cup
International
- As of match played July 4, 2026[64]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 2019 | 4 | 0 |
| 2020 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 16 | 1 | |
| 2022 | 15 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 11 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 12 | 0 | |
| 2025 | 11 | 0 | |
| 2026 | 9 | 0 | |
| Total | 80 | 1 | |
- As of March 25, 2021. Scores and results list Canada's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Laryea goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | March 25, 2021 | Exploria Stadium, Orlando, United States | 7 |  Bermuda | 3–0 | 5–1 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
