Monterey Bay F.C. announced today that the club has signed midfielder Jiro Barriga Toyama ahead of its inaugural USL Championship campaign.
Raised in Chiba, Japan, Barriga Toyama showcased his skills at the collegiate level for Barton Community College, scoring seven goals in 25 matches. After his year there, he moved to Florida Gulf Coast University and recorded two goals and five assists in 31 appearances for the Eagles. During his collegiate career, Barriga Toyama also played for the Brooklyn Italians, a national amateur club in the National Premier Soccer League. In a U.S. Open Cup match with Brooklyn in 2014, the midfielder scored the game-winning goal to push the team into the third round.
After graduation, Barriga Toyama joined Major League Soccer side Minnesota United FC as a trialist in 2019, and scored a hat trick in a preseason friendly before signing with the club’s USL League One affiliate, Forward Madison FC, where he spent the past three years.
“Jiro had an outstanding season at the USL League One level with Forward Madison,” explained Monterey Bay F.C. Sporting Director and Head Coach Frank Yallop. “He’s a versatile left-sided player who is exciting on the dribble and will create chances for the team.”
During his three seasons in Wisconsin, Barriga Toyama scored one goal and recorded two assists in 58 career appearances, including his professional debut against Chattanooga Red Wolves SC on April 7, 2019.
“I’m extremely excited to be a part of this inaugural team,” said Barriga Toyama. “I can’t wait to meet everyone, start working hard and bring a championship to our community and the supporters of MBFC. I want to thank coach Frank for this opportunity. I feel very motivated and I can’t wait to kick off the season strong.”
Player Information:
Name: Jiro Barriga Toyama
Position: Midfielder, Defender
Age: 26
Height: 5’10”
Hometown: Chiba, Japan
Monterey Bay F.C. roster as of March 1, 2022: (18)
Goalkeepers
Dallas Jaye (Danville, California)
Rafael Díaz (Paterson, New Jersey)
Defenders
Morey Doner (Collingwood, Ontario)
Hugh Roberts (Olney, Maryland)
Grant Robinson (Columbia, Maryland)
Kai Greene (Jersey City, New Jersey)
Sam Strong (Santa Barbara, California)
Midfielders
James Murphy (Scotch Plains, New Jersey)
Arun Basuljevic (Bronx, New York)
Mobi Fehr (New York, New York)
Sam Gleadle (Chichester, England)
Jiro Barriga Toyama (Chiba, Japan)
Forwards
Walmer Martínez (Santa Cruz, California)
Chase Boone (Beaverton, Oregon)
Seku Conneh (Voinjama, Liberia)
Christian Volesky (Henderson, Nevada)
Christoper Cortez (Mission Viejo, California)
Jesse Maldonado (Chandler, Arizona)
