Sporting KC trades rights to Hérculez Gómez to Toronto FC

At long last, Hérculez Gómez is returning to Major League Soccer.

But it won’t be in Kansas City.

Sporting KC traded the rights to Gómez to Toronto FC in exchange for allocation money, the clubs announced Friday morning.

Toronto FC subsequently announced it had agreed to a contract with Gómez, a 33-year-old forward who last played in MLS when he was with the Kansas City Wizards in the 2008-2009 seasons.

The Kansas City franchise has maintained Gómez’s rights since it made him a “bona fide offer” following the 2009 season — an offer that at least met his previous salary. Four years later, Gómez revealed on Twitter that offer actually represented a $20,000 raise from his 2009 salary, but he rejected it.

A former U.S. men’s national team player, Gómez instead took his talents to Mexico, where he played for six teams over the past six years. He most recently played for Puebla, on loan from Club Tijuana.

Per MLS rules, allocation monies are funds available to the club outside of the salary cap. They can be used to sign new players, re-sign existing players or “buy down” a player’s salary below designated player status, freeing up a designated player spot.

This story was originally published August 7, 2015 at 10:06 AM with the headline "Sporting KC trades rights to Hérculez Gómez to Toronto FC."