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Just when you thought Orlando City SC‘s transfer activity was finished this spring, think again with the Lions completing the impressive loan signing of Luis Gil today.
The attack-minded midfielder arrives on loan from Mexican Liga MX side Querétaro FC with an option to to purchase the 23-year-old at the end of the 2017 Major League Soccer campaign.
Orlando City SC traded $100,000 of Targeted Allocation Money to Luis Gil‘s former club Real Salt Lake in exchange for his Right of First Refusal.
A former United States international, winning two senior caps under Jurgen Klinsmann in 2014, Luis Gil is an exciting right-footed central midfielder who can also play as a number 10 or on the left or right side of Jason Kreis‘ favoured diamond midfield system.
No stranger to MLS having made 134 league appearances for Real Salt Lake between 2010 and 2015, Luis Gil scored 11 goals in that timeframe with Jason Kreis managing him at Rio Tinto Stadium from 2010 to 2013.
News that the Luis Gil loan deal has now been completed comes as a relief, especially after there was talk that the deal had stalled after ESPN broke the news that Orlando City SC were closing in on the Californian native recently.
Delighted with the capture, Orlando City SC General Manager Niki Budalic claimed: “Luis offers us another attacking threat and will fit in nicely with our squad.
Luis Gil will give the Lions extra depth in midfield, especially following the winter departure of Kevin Molino to Adrian Heath‘s Minnesota United.
Expected to challenge Giles Barnes and Matías Pérez García for a regular starting spot, Luis Gil is a versatile customer so it will be interesting to see where Jason Kreis chooses to deploy him.
Not only that but the midfielder will also be hoping to make inroads back into the United States squad under Bruce Arena with Luis Gil still having his best years ahead of him.
17. Luis Gil
Position(s): Central Midfield, Attacking Midfield, Left Midfield, Right Midfield
Nationality: United States
Hometown: Garden Grove, California
Date of Birth: 14/11/1993
Height: 5 ft 10 in
Former Clubs: Real Salt Lake, AC St. Louis (Loan), Querétaro
Twitter: @LuisitoGil_10