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According to official club reports, Orlando City SC have signed 23-year-old Uruguayan centre back José Aja on a six-month loan deal.
With the deal including an option to buy the defender permanently from Club Nacional de Football, the deal had been held up over paperwork clearance.
Orlando City UK first heard about Orlando City SC’s interest in José Aja at the start of the month but despite being targeted during Adrian Heath‘s latter days in charge, he will work under the new guidance of Jason Kreis.
The Lions’ first signing of the mid-season transfer window in Major League Soccer, José Aja arrives to fill a problem area for City with Seb Hines and David Mateos having failed to lock down the backline so far in 2016.
Orlando City Acquires Uruguayan Defender José Aja on Loan.
Read: https://t.co/rWXHgukHGP pic.twitter.com/3ZqFge2GtT
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) July 21, 2016
Standing at a domineering 6 ft 4 in, José Aja‘s arrival at Camping World Stadium will belatedly make up for the April loss of Aurélien Collin who was traded to New York Red Bulls of course.
During his time with Club Nacional de Football, José Aja helped the side to a Uruguayan Championship triumph in 2014/15 while also contributing in the 2015 Copa Libertadores and Sudamericana tournaments.
More recently, José Aja has spent time away from Club Nacional de Football on loan at fellow first division outfit Racing Club de Montevideo racking up 12 appearances and two goals in his temporary spell there.
Orlando City UK would like to take this moment to welcome José Aja to Orlando City SC while wishing him the very best of luck for the remainder of the MLS campaign.
José Aja
Position(s): Centre Back
Nationality: Uruguay
Hometown: Montevideo
Date of Birth: 10/05/1993
Height: 6 ft 4 in
Former Clubs: Club Nacional de Football B, Club Nacional de Football, Racing Club de Montevideo (Loan)