TORONTO, ON (October 22, 2026) - Arya Wynter is named the inaugural captain of the AFC Toronto Academy, marking an important milestone as the team prepares for its first season. As captain, Wynter will lead her teammates on and off the pitch, helping establish the standards and culture of the Academy from the outset.

For Wynter, the role is about more than wearing the armband. It’s about earning her teammates’ trust, leading by example and being someone they can rely on.

“I just want to be someone my teammates can rely on. I don’t want them to see me as being on a different level than them,” said Arya Wynter, AFC Toronto Academy defender and captain. “We’re all equal, and I don’t want to be treated differently just because I wear the armband. I just want to be respected, and I’ll give that same respect in return.”

Originally from Ottawa, Wynter began playing soccer around the age of eight or nine. Before fully committing to the sport, she explored other athletic pursuits, including dance and gymnastics. But her introduction to soccer came from an experience that left a lasting impression.

“I got into soccer... When I was really young, I was at recess and they wouldn’t let me play because I was a girl,” Wynter says. “So I told my parents, ‘You need to get me into soccer.’ The next time I asked to play, they let me because I wasn’t bad.”

Since then, her journey has taken her from Ottawa to Toronto, where she relocated without her family to pursue greater opportunities in soccer. The move brought new challenges both on and off the field, making her development and accomplishments to date all the more meaningful.

“It wasn’t easy to get where I am. I went through a lot of ups and downs. I live here without my family, so I’m very proud of everything I’ve accomplished so far,” Wynter says.

Her development has also involved adapting to new challenges on the pitch. Originally a striker, Wynter transitioned to centre-back a few years ago, a change that helped shape her game and her confidence in the position.

“I think when my coach moved me back, it was one of the best decisions that ever happened to me,” Wynter says. “Centre-back is my favourite position. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else on the field. I feel the most calm and confident back there.”

That confidence has carried into her new role as captain. When Academy Director Marc Maunder approached her about taking on the responsibility, Wynter was surprised by the decision and honoured by the trust placed in her.

“I was so honoured, honestly. I was just so excited. I had no words. I wasn’t expecting it,” Wynter said. “I’m not the oldest, I’m not the best, but when Marc told me and gave me the armband in the first game, I was just like, ‘Are you sure?’ And he said, ‘Yeah, I’m sure.’ So I was just very, very honoured.”

As the inaugural captain of the AFC Toronto Academy, Wynter will help establish the team’s culture and set the tone for those around her. For her, that starts with treating her teammates as equals, leading by example and building the kind of trust that extends beyond the pitch.

Off the pitch with Arya 
We got to know AFC Toronto Academy captain Arya Wynter a little better with a quickfire round covering everything from her favourite soccer team to her ideal training time. 

• Favourite subject in school: Math.
• Favourite female soccer player: Vanessa Gillies.
• Favourite soccer team: FC Barcelona.
• Dream travel destination: Spain or Greece.
• Favourite colour: Green.
• Favourite TV shows: Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Stranger Things.
• Favourite movie: The Nightmare Before Christmas.
• Early morning or nighttime training: Nighttime, but only if there’s a sunset.
• Pregame meal: Can’t eat before games.
• Game-winning goal or game-saving clearance: Game-winning header.