Julian Altobelli

Julian Altobelli

Altobelli playing for Toronto FC II in 2023
Personal information
Full name	Julian Anthony Altobelli
Date of birth	(2002-11-04) November 4, 2002 (age 22)
Place of birth	Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Youth career
	Bolton Wanderers SC
	Vaughan Azzurri
	Woodbridge Strikers
2014–2020	Toronto FC
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2020	York9	0	(0)
2021–2024	Toronto FC II	92	(21)
2023	→ Toronto FC (loan)	0	(0)
2024	→ Toronto FC (loan)	0	(0)
International career^‡
2019	Canada U17	6	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of November 15, 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of October 6, 2020

Julian Anthony Altobelli (born November 4, 2002) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder.

Early life

Altobelli was born in Toronto and is of Italian descent, where his grandparents were born.^[1] He grew up in Bolton, Ontario, where he played for local club Bolton Wanderers SC.^[2] He later moved with his family to Vaughan, where he played for youth teams of Vaughan Azzurri and Woodbridge Strikers.^[3] He later joined the Toronto FC Academy in 2014.^[4]

Club career

After posting a highlight reel on Instagram, he caught the attention of his future player agent, who informed him that Canadian Premier League club York9 was interested in him.^[3] After feeling the opportunities at Toronto FC lacking, he left the club's academy and signed with York9 on May 13, 2020, with options until 2023, becoming the club's youngest ever signing.^[5][6] After not making any appearances in the 2020 CPL season, he requested and was granted his release from the club.^[7]

In December 2020, he returned to the TFC system, signing with Toronto FC II of USL League One for the 2021 season.^[8] He made his debut on May 26, coming on as a substitute against FC Tucson.^[9] He scored his first goal on June 19, against Fort Lauderdale CF.^[10] In October 2023, he signed a short-term loan with the Toronto FC first team, ahead of their match against Charlotte FC.^[11] In March 2024, he re-signed with TFC2 for the 2024 season.^[12] In 2024, he signed another three short-term loans with the first team.^[13][14][15] On July 14, 2024, he became the all-time appearance leader for Toronto FC II, with his 85th cap across all competitions.^[16] He was awarded the MLS Next Pro Goal of the Matchweek twice that season.^[17][18] On September 15, 2024, he scored in his eighth consecutive match (the second longest streak in league history),^[19][20] netting his 20th goal for the club, tying him for the club all-time lead with Jordan Perruzza.^[21] Altobelli's contract expired following the 2024 season.^[22]

International career

Altobelli has represented the Canada U17 team at the 2019 CONCACAF U-17 Championship and the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup.^[23][24] He scored in a penalty kick shootout victory against Costa Rica U17 in the quarter-finals of the CONCACAF tournament which qualified the team for the U17 World Cup.^[25]

Career statistics

As of October 6, 2024^[26]

Club	Season	League			Playoffs		National Cup		Continental		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
York9	2020	Canadian Premier League	0	0	–		–		–		0	0
Toronto FC II	2021	USL League One	23	2	–		–		–		23	2
	2022	MLS Next Pro	21	5	2	0	–		–		23	5
	2023		25	3	–		–		–		25	3
	2024		23	11	–		–		–		23	11
	Total		92	21	2	0	0	0	0	0	94	21
Toronto FC	2023	Major League Soccer	0	0	–		0	0	–		0	0
Career total			92	21	2	0	0	0	0	0	94	21

References

1. "In Focus: York9 FC's Julian Altobelli on Canadian youth team experiences, life as CPL rookie". Canadian Premier League. July 26, 2020.
2. "Julian Altobelli Soccer Canada profile". Canadian Soccer Association.
3. Molinaro, John (June 18, 2020). "How an Instagram post led to York9 FC signing rookie Julian Altobelli". Canadian Premier League.
4. "Toronto FC II Sign Three Academy Players". Toronto FC. December 16, 2020.
5. Davidson, Neil (May 13, 2020). "Canadian youth international midfielder Julian Altobelli signs with York 9 FC". Toronto Star.
6. "Canadian U-17 International Julian Altobelli Signs with York9 FC". York United FC. May 13, 2020.
7. Jacques, John (October 28, 2020). "York9 FC Releases 2021 Roster Update". Northern Tribune.
8. Jacques, John (December 16, 2020). "Former Nine Stripe Julian Altobelli Joins Toronto FC II". Northern Tribune.
9. Steiner, Ben (May 27, 2021). "TFC II fall to FC Tucson in the second match of the season". Waking the Red.
10. Steiner, Ben (June 20, 2021). "Toronto's teenagers lead TFC II to victory against Fort Lauderdale CF". Waking the Red. Archived from the original on June 20, 2021. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
11. "Toronto FC sign Midfielder Julian Altobelli to short-term agreement". Toronto FC. October 4, 2023.
12. "Toronto FC II re-sign Antony Curic and Julian Altobelli". Toronto FC. March 13, 2024.
13. "Toronto FC sign Julian Altobelli to MLS short-term agreement". Toronto FC. July 13, 2024.
14. "Toronto FC sign Julian Altobelli to short-term agreement". Toronto FC. August 4, 2024.
15. "Toronto FC sign Julian Altobelli to MLS short-term agreement". Toronto FC. August 8, 2024.
16. Kadbet, Nikk (July 14, 2024). "Match Recap: Toronto FC II 1-2 FC Cincinnati II - July 14, 2024". Toronto FC.
17. "MLS NEXT Pro Goal of Matchday 14: Julian Altobelli". MLS Next Pro. June 30, 2024.
18. Chavez, Ramon (August 13, 2024). "MLS NEXT Pro Goal of Matchweek 22: Julian Altobelli". MLS Next Pro.
19. Snipes, Tyler (September 21, 2024). "TFC II's Julian Altobelli eyes club, MLS NEXT Pro history: "It would be amazing"". MLS Next Pro.
20. Molinaro, John (September 26, 2024). "The story behind Julian Altobelli's breakout season with TFC 2". TFC Republic.
21. Kadbet, Nikk (September 15, 2024). "Match Recap - Toronto FC II 3-0 New York City FC II - September 15, 2024". Toronto FC.
22. "Toronto FC II announce roster moves, futures of Altobelli, De Rosario and others up in the air". Waking the Red. November 15, 2024.
23. "Five Academy Players named to Canada Soccer Roster for CONCACAF U-17 Championship". Toronto FC. April 26, 2019.
24. Molinaro, John (October 25, 2019). "What you need to know: Canada at the U-17 FIFA World Cup". Canadian Premier League.
25. "Canada wins 4-3 on Kicks to Qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Brazil 2019". Ontario Soccer Association. May 13, 2019.
26. Julian Altobelli at Soccerway