Canadian national team player Regan becomes latest signing for Northern Super League's AFC Toronto

When it came to choosing her next professional soccer contract, budding Canadian national team midfielder Emma Regan had a myriad of choices but one stood out above the rest — a chance to play on home soil.

The 24-year-old from Burnaby, B.C., signed with AFC Toronto Thursday and is the first active national team player to sign with the Northern Super League, Canada's new domestic professional soccer league kicking off in April 2025.

"I didn't have an opportunity like this coming out of college to play at home professionally. Playing abroad was great, but this opens another avenue for players like me who want to take their careers to the next level," she told CBC Sports.

"There will be so many Canadians who benefit from this league. It's been a long time coming. I'm just so excited to be part of the start of it and I get to play with some of my friends, too."

Fortuitous twist 

In a fortuitous twist, one of Regan's original and longtime soccer teammates from Burnaby, Kaela Hansen, also signed with AFC Toronto.

Hansen, a 24-year-old versatile and technically gifted defender, is a former member of the Whitecaps FC Academy and Canada Soccer's National EXCEL program alongside Regan. The pair began playing together as eight-year-olds with Cliff Avenue - along with Canadian national team member Julia Grosso - and later with Burnaby Girls and Mountain United (all now part of Burnaby Football Club).

"She's one of my best friends and an amazing player," Regan said of Hansen, adding they had no idea they were both in discussions with the club.

"It just kind of happened. We were chatting about what was next and she said 'Are you going there?' and I said 'Wait, are you going there? We ended up both signing. It's nice to go to a team where you have some connections already."

The 24-year-old Hansen is a former member of the Whitecaps FC Academy and Canada Soccer's National EXCEL program alongside Regan. (Missy Minear/Kansas Athletics)

Hansen said it's been six years since they've played on the same team (though they shared the same pitch on occasion in college as Regan's Texas Longhorns and Hansen's Kansas Jayhawks played in the same conference).

She said the group from Burnaby hoped to one day play together again, but didn't expect it to happen so quickly.

"That's the great thing about the NSL starting up. It gives players like us who have gone abroad the opportunity to play pro at home. The NSL is going to make a big impact on a lot of people."

First professional contract 

Regan returns to Canada from her first professional contract with Danish club HB Køge, about a 30-minute drive from Copenhagen. She made 32 appearances, excelling in both defensive and midfield roles, scoring three goals, and helping the team secure the league title. In 2024, she earned a call-up for Canada at the SheBelieves Cup in Atlanta.

Most recently, she was with the national team for friendlies against Iceland and Korea Republic. If you want a glimpse into what kind of player Regan is, all you need to do is watch her 90-minute performance in Canada's 5-1 victory over Korea Republic Dec. 3.

In her second start in four appearances for Canada, Regan was a workhorse in the centre of the pitch, responsible on the defensive end and always looking for the ball and making quick and smart decisions on the offensive side.

"I was really happy obviously to get the full 90 minutes. That was a big milestone for me and I'm just happy to be in camp whenever I can be. I think that's been my mindset the past couple of years. After not being called in, I just kept working on my own," Regan said, adding that her goal is looking ahead to the 2027 World Cup and 2028 Olympics.

"This league offers the opportunity for a lot more eyes on Canadian players in general. I wanted to be with a club with good values. The national team stuff works out when you're working hard and the karma comes back over to you. I'm really excited to do that at AFC Toronto."

WATCH | Canada cruises to win over South Korea in 2024 finale:

Since graduating from Kansas, Hansen has played overseas for ŽFK Spartak Subotica in Serbia and most recently, KuPS in Finland. During her time in Europe, she also competed in the UEFA Women's Champions League qualification phases with both clubs during the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 seasons.

While her preferred position is centre back, her versatility allows her to play all around the back and some holding midfield, when necessary.

"I'm a player who is very aggressive, has very good anticipation on and off the ball and what gives me an edge as a centre back is my technical ability. I can drive the ball up. I like creating plays," she said.

Regan, seen playing for Canada at BMO Field in Toronto in July, returns to Canada from her first professional contract with Danish club HB Køge, about a 30-minute drive from Copenhagen. (Audrey Magny)

Soccer has taken Regan and Hansen all over the world from their humble beginnings in Burnaby to the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Jordan to professional careers in Europe and now back at home, though it might be a surprise to some people they're not signing with the club from their own backyard.

One thing they're both looking forward to is meeting their AFC Toronto teammates.

"All the different players coming from Canada and around the world," said Hansen. "I'm excited to see how we mesh as a family and team."

The NSL, comprising of AFC Toronto, Halifax Tides FC, Ottawa Rapid FC, Montreal Roses FC, Calgary Wild FC and Vancouver Wild FC, begins its inaugural season in April.

More announcements including player signings and league schedule are expected in the new year.