Colorado Rapids midfielder Martin Rivero, left, falls after running into Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Davide Chiumiento and losing the ball in the second half of the Whitecaps' 1-0 victory in a Major League Soccer game on Wednesday, July 4, 2012, in Commerce City, Colo.David Zalubowski/The Associated Press
All three Canadian MLS teams made moves Wednesday with the Vancouver Whitecaps selling midfielder Davide Chiumiento, the Montreal Impact dealing forward Justin Braun and Toronto FC parting ways with forward Nick Soolsma.
The Whitecaps sold Chiumiento, a speedy playmaker, to FC Zurich. The 27-year-old Swiss international joined the MLS team in August 2010 after spending four seasons in his native Switzerland — three with FC Luzern, and one with Berner Sport Club (BSC) Young Boys.
"This is a great opportunity for him to be closer to his family while continuing his soccer career," Vancouver head coach Martin Rennie said in a statement Wednesday prior to the Whitecaps' game in Toronto. "We would like to thank Davide for all of his contributions to the club and wish him the best of luck in the future."
Chiumiento had five assists in 16 league appearances this season.
The Impact shipped Braun to Real Salt Lake for a conditional pick in the 2014 SuperDraft. Braun, a native of Salt Lake City, had one assist in 15 games, including five starts, but found himself further down the pecking order with the addition of Italian star Marco Di Vaio.
Montreal, which has given up a league-worst 36 goals this season, also added Swiss defender Dennis Iapichino.
The 21-year-old Swiss under-20 international started in the FC Basel youth system before being loaned to FC Biel-Bienne and FC Lugano. He made a permanent move to Lugano for the 2011-12 season.
Toronto FC said Soolsma's contract had been terminated by mutual consent.
The 24-year-old Dutch international's fall from grace has been remarkable. Soolsma, who signed with Toronto in March 2011, was one of the team's best performers earlier this season.
But an injury and off-field arrest with two teammates in Houston for public intoxication did little to enhance his place at the club.
Soolsma made 32 league appearances, scoring three goals and adding seven assists, for Toronto.
Toronto also announced that forward Joao Plata's six-month loan deal with Ecuador's LDU Quito had been finalized.
The South American club did not wait to make it official, introducing Plata at a news conference several days before the TFC release.
The Soolsma and Plata moves will free up salary space to help head coach Paul Mariner reinforce his roster.