This evening (UK time), Orlando City SC officially announced their updated first team roster following the end of the 2019 Major League Soccer campaign.
The first comprehensive evidence as to who is staying, potentially remaining and departing Exploria Stadium before 2020, there were a couple of surprise names in the ‘option declined’ column.
With Uri Rosell and Lamine Sané the eye-catching names on the ‘option declined’ list, it’s worth noting that Orlando City SC may renegotiate new contracts for players on this list should they see fit.
For full rules on MLS Roster Rules and Regulations, click here.
Following the announcement, the status of Orlando City SC‘s first team roster was:
Under Contract
Josué Colmán
Dom Dwyer
Robin Jansson
Jhegson Méndez
Benji Michel
João Moutinho
Nani
Mauricio Pereyra
Robinho
Brian Rowe
Negotiating Permanent Transfer
Out of Contract
Cristian Higuita
Will Johnson
Sacha Kljestan
Option Exercised
Tesho Akindele
Kamal Miller
Chris Mueller
Santiago Patiño
Kyle Smith
Option Declined
Carlos Ascues
Alex De John
Adam Grinwis
Cam Lindley
Shane O’Neill
Dillon Powers
Greg Ranjitsingh
Uri Rosell
Lamine Sané
Mason Stajduhar
Loan Expired
Orlando City UK gathered the best tweets from the Twittersphere following the club announcement.
I think Sane should have been resigned, happy to see the rest go, we need to revamp/refresh
— Ryan (@R_Rishel) November 21, 2019
Surprised by Lindley, Sane and Uri but I’m okay with this. Sane was good but his wages were too much. Glad to see Ruan is discussion
— Charlotte (@KirbyHazard) November 21, 2019
Happy to see Sasha go, sad about Grinwis, Higuita, Johnson, and Sane
— City Topics (@CityTopics) November 21, 2019
Really surprised about Lindley
— Mike Paz (@MikeJPaz) November 21, 2019
Letting Sane and Rosell go is dumb, but it’s about time Johnson and Klejstan moved on. De John was a solid choice that deserved more. Let’s just hope we’re making moves in the transfer market 🤷♂️
— dan (@DanDicks2) November 21, 2019
Extremely cheap depth with a good locker room presence that can play at both fullback positions is surprisingly hard to find.
— Graham (@Graham_FL) November 21, 2019
Proved he was willing to take a shot at whatever position coach asked him to play and gave everything. Everyone needs a jack of all trades type. Johnson seemed to fill that role before but Smith is a lot cheaper
— Brit (@Brit_OCSC) November 21, 2019
Poor Grinwis! He deserved a shot in the league!
— UK NYCFC 🇬🇧 🗽 (@UKNYCFC) November 21, 2019
We will miss Sane…
— Steve Borkman (@SteveBorkman) November 21, 2019
lindley i’m most sad about. watched memphis for nothing.
— Mueller Masterclass (@VamosOCSC) November 21, 2019
Lindley seemed like low cost and high potential upside, not sure I agree with that one
— Tree City Lions (@TreeCityLions) November 21, 2019
wow, whole roster is gutted. for the best. confirmation of a busy window for the club. very interested in the big swedes new partner with sane gone.
— Mueller Masterclass (@VamosOCSC) November 21, 2019
We better have a big offseason. Kinda hoped Lindley would be given more time though. And Higuita needs a new contract still imo
— Vipez🦁⚽️ (@VipezEk) November 21, 2019
Lots of expensive and dead weight cut. Looking forward to crazy offseason
— jake (@JakeBakesCakesB) November 21, 2019
Sad about Grinny he sure gave his all in the Open Cup. Still think he is quicker with better distribution than Rowe. I hope we don’t lose Higuita and Uri since Ascues and Johnson are gone. We better get busy have a lot of spots to fill
— MTBH (@mtbh12) November 21, 2019
Sane hurts. He was one of our best players last year, but I understand because he is so expensive. Surprised at Lindley. He was HG so didn’t count toward cap, so it doesn’t seem to make much sense. Other than that, hope Higuita gets a new contract and wish Grinwis was picked up.
— Daniel Cluley (@DanielCluley) November 21, 2019
While there’s a lot of guys moving on that fought hard over their time, this gives me hope that the front office sees the real need to catch up to MLS 5.0 by upgrading talent across the board
— Nathan Vink (@NathanVink) November 21, 2019
Lindley was looking really good on his loan. I wish he would have gotten a chance to prove himself at the top level. I expect some of these guys to come back on cheaper contracts.
— Bradley Evans (@bharperevans) November 22, 2019
1️⃣0️⃣8️⃣ and out for Cristian Higuita?
— Harry Salvidge (@H_Salvidge14) November 21, 2019
Disappointed to potentially see him go on a free and to see Sané leave as well but the annual shake up is needed!#FaceOfCity #OCSC @Orlando_CityUK https://t.co/q2lBag2OjO
— Moraima (@Moraima_4) November 21, 2019
What are YOU making of Orlando City SC‘s 2019 end-of-season roster update?
Comment below or tweet us at @Orlando_CityUK to let us know!