Toronto FC general manager Tim Bezbatchenko confirmed to reporters Tuesday the club has picked up the contract option of Armando Cooper who spent last season on loan from Arabe Unido. As such, the Panamanian attacking midfielder is now a permanent signing with the club.

Armando Cooper is no longer on loan at Toronto FC. He is a permanent player and will be back next season, Bez confirms. #TFCLive — Laura Armstrong (@lauraarmy) December 13, 2016

Cooper joined the club midway through the 2016 season and made an immediate impact, slotting in beside Michael Bradley and Jonathan Osorio in Greg Vanney's midfield and displacing Will Johnson from the starting lineup.

He scored his first goal for the club at just the right moment, too, netting an equalizer in the second leg of the Eastern Conference Championship against bitter rivals Montreal Impact.

The terms of Cooper's deal are not known but the club could potentially dip into its Targeted Allocation Money fund if needed to fund the signing for next season. MLS teams received an increased $1.2 million in TAM funds for 2017.